A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto region on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people and triggering widespread destruction, including the collapse of buildings, roads, and a section of the historic Kumamoto Castle. The quake, which occurred at around 4:27 pm local time, sent shockwaves through the southern island of Kyushu, damaging infrastructure and prompting emergency responses from authorities. Rescue efforts continued into Wednesday as teams worked to locate and extract survivors from collapsed structures, particularly at the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, where an explosion followed the initial tremors. At least 200 people reportedly fled the mall before the blast, though officials remain uncertain how many individuals were still trapped inside. The earthquake struck approximately 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto City, with its epicenter located at coordinates 32.643°N and 130.985°E, at a depth of 70 kilometers. It caused immediate chaos, with videos circulating online showing vehicles being thrown off bridges and buildings swaying violently. In Kashima Town, the second floor of the Aeon Mall collapsed, leading to a suspected gas leak that ignited an explosion. Local fire officials confirmed the incident, though the exact cause of the blast remains under investigation. Meanwhile, at Nippon Paper Industries’ Yatsushiro factory, a chimney collapsed, trapping seven workers beneath the rubble. By Wednesday morning, two survivors had been rescued, while two bodies were recovered, with the fate of the remaining five still unknown. Across the affected region, more than 9,000 people took shelter in evacuation centers, with 260,000 residents ordered to relocate due to the risks posed by ongoing aftershocks and potential landslides. Emergency services, supported by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, were deployed to conduct search-and-rescue missions and provide aid to displaced populations. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that nearly 3,600 military personnel had been mobilized to assist in recovery efforts, delivering essential supplies such as water, food, and medical care to affected communities. Transportation networks were severely impacted, with the runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport closed for inspection and a train derailing at Yatsushiro Station. Roads sustained significant damage, including large cracks on elevated highways, complicating relief operations. Hospitals in Yatsushiro and Kumamoto treated numerous injured individuals, with some facilities operating under dire conditions due to power outages. For example, a hospital in Uki City described itself as functioning like a field hospital due to extended electrical failures, while another facility suspended new admissions after treating 86 injured people, including three in critical condition. The earthquake also disrupted industrial activities, with companies such as Tokyo Electron, Honda, and TSMC suspending operations in the affected regions. TSMC evacuated workers from its local facility as a precautionary measure, later beginning to resume operations late Tuesday. The impact on transportation and industry underscored the scale of the disaster, with officials warning that strong aftershocks could continue for up to a week. Historic sites were not spared from the devastation, as sections of Kumamoto Castle’s stone walls collapsed, releasing plumes of dust into the air. The castle, still recovering from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, faced renewed damage, prompting authorities to assess the extent of the structural harm. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for coastal areas, though the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated that no significant threats existed beyond local shorelines. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the crisis, emphasizing the urgency of rescue operations and the need for residents to heed evacuation orders. She announced the formation of an emergency task force to oversee the response and ensure the coordination of relief efforts. As temperatures climbed toward 34 degrees Celsius, concerns grew over the risk of heat-related illnesses among those without access to electricity. With rescue teams working tirelessly to locate survivors and stabilize the region, the focus remained on saving lives and mitigating further damage.
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