A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, leaving at least 13 people dead and prompting widespread evacuations. Rescue operations continue as authorities warn of ongoing aftershocks.
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, resulting in at least 13 confirmed deaths, according to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The tremor, which registered the highest level on Japan's seismic intensity scale, caused significant damage across the region, with authorities warning that the death toll is likely to increase as search and rescue operations continue and dozens of people remain unaccounted for.
The disaster claimed multiple lives at a shopping mall in Kashima, where an explosion triggered a building collapse. Two women in their twenties were among those killed at the site, and rescue workers recovered eight people from the wreckage. Officials reported that five additional individuals sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Beyond the mall, casualties were distributed across the wider area, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara noting that seven people had sustained serious injuries while 29 others suffered minor wounds.
The aftermath of the initial quake has been marked by continued seismic activity, with multiple strong aftershocks striking the region into the following day. In response to the ongoing threat, nearly 10,000 residents had been evacuated from Kumamoto Prefecture by the morning after the earthquake. Prime Minister Takaichi pledged that the government would commit all available resources to rescue efforts and provide assistance to affected communities. Local authorities urged residents to maintain heightened alertness for potential large quakes as rescue teams worked through rising temperatures to locate survivors amid the destruction.
