Earthquake death toll rises in Japan as rescue teams search for missing people

The number of deaths from the earthquake in Japan has risen while search teams continue their efforts to locate missing persons. On Wednesday, the death toll climbed to 13, with dozens still trapped under rubble from collapsed buildings, factories, and a partially destroyed shopping center in the prefecture of Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu. The disaster struck early Tuesday, triggering a series of aftershocks and causing widespread damage. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially recorded the quake as magnitude 7.1, later revised to 6.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Search operations have been underway since the quake, with more than 3,600 personnel from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, along with hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and emergency crews from other regions, working tirelessly through sweltering temperatures exceeding 34 degrees Celsius. These conditions have made rescue efforts even more challenging. In one of the most dramatic scenes, a shopping center operated by the Aeon chain suffered a violent explosion shortly after the initial tremors. Video footage broadcast by Japanese television showed parts of the roof torn away, twisted steel beams, and tons of debris scattered across the parking lot. Authorities confirmed two women had died in the incident and feared there could be more victims buried beneath the wreckage. Initial reports suggested between 20 and 30 people were trapped, but police now estimate the number may be lower. Investigators suspect a gas leak triggered by the earthquake, though the exact cause remains under scrutiny. At a distance, in the city of Yatsushiro, another operation kept rescuers on edge. The collapse of a chimney at a factory owned by Nippon Paper Industries left several workers buried. Three were rescued alive, although one later succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Others remain missing beneath a structure composed of concrete and steel that continues to pose a risk of further collapse. As the search continues, residents face additional threats from aftershocks. Over 60 tremors have been recorded since the main quake, some of considerable intensity. The JMA has issued warnings that new quakes of similar magnitude could occur within the next few days, especially given the shallow depth of the epicenter, just 16 kilometers below the surface. This proximity increases the likelihood of landslides and further structural failures, complicating recovery efforts. Power and water cuts have affected nearly 50,000 homes during the first night, with approximately 140,000 losing access to clean water. Many residents opted to sleep in their cars, a common response in past earthquakes, fearing that subsequent shocks might collapse weakened structures. Authorities ordered the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, placing immense strain on hospitals already dealing with hundreds of injured individuals suffering fractures, burns, and trauma from the collapses. The earthquake has disrupted economic activity across Kyushu. Kumamoto Airport temporarily halted operations, high-speed trains ceased service for track inspections, and sections of highways were closed due to cracks and damaged bridges. Major companies such as TSMC, Sony, and Fujifilm evacuated employees as a precaution. Despite these disruptions, officials confirmed that regional nuclear power plants remained unaffected.