A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake has devastated Japan’s Kyushu island, killing at least 13 people, damaging critical infrastructure, and prompting a massive rescue operation as authorities search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
Emergency crews across southwestern Japan are continuing a desperate search for survivors after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu island, leaving at least 13 people dead and causing widespread destruction.
The shallow earthquake, recorded at a depth of around 10 kilometers, toppled homes, ignited multiple fires, damaged bridges, and disrupted essential services across the Kumamoto region. Nearly 37,000 households lost electricity as authorities worked to restore power and assess the full extent of the damage.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the fatalities during a briefing in Tokyo, while Chief Cabinet Spokesman Minoru Kihara said at least seven people sustained serious injuries. More than 9,000 residents have been relocated to hundreds of emergency shelters as aftershocks continue to threaten affected communities.
Rescue efforts are focused on the town of Kashima, where part of an Aeon Mall collapsed after a gas explosion that occurred shortly after the main earthquake. Specialized search teams are carefully removing debris in hopes of finding additional survivors. Authorities confirmed that two women were killed in the collapse, while eight others were successfully rescued.
In nearby Yatsushiro city, emergency workers are searching for nine employees missing after a smokestack collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries facility during the quake.
The earthquake reached the highest level on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, triggering widespread transportation disruptions. A cargo train derailed, bullet train services across Kyushu were suspended, and parts of the historic Kumamoto Castle suffered structural damage.
About The Author
