People in southwestern Japan have remembered the victims of the massive earthquakes in 2016. The disaster devastated wide areas of Kumamoto Prefecture and claimed hundreds of lives.

Tuesday marks eight years since a tremor registered the maximum intensity of seven on Japan's seismic scale. It followed another large quake two days earlier. Officials say the death toll stands at 276. The figure includes people who have died from causes related to the disaster.

About 800 students from Tokai University's School of Agriculture used to live in this district. A residence run by this couple collapsed from the quakes and one student died.

The couple has planted flower beds in his memory.
Watanabe Hiroko said, "I felt how precious life is. I want to keep the flower beds beautiful so we will always remember him."

The temblors caused major damage to train tracks and bridge beams on the Minamiaso Railway. Full operations resumed in July last year.

In the city of Aso, the disaster nearly destroyed the Romon gate at Aso Shrine. Reconstruction work on the national cultural property was completed last December. Visitors put their hands together to pray and pay their respects.