A 7.1 magnitude quake rocked southern Japan on Tuesday, with rescue teams desperately searching for survivors on Wednesday. The earthquake resulted in at least 13 deaths, power outages affecting thousands, and road collapses across the region.
Eight individuals were rescued from the debris of a shopping mall near Kumamoto that partially collapsed and was struck by an explosion about an hour after the quake. Among those rescued were two women in their twenties who later died. It is estimated that 20 to 30 mall workers are still unaccounted for, according to NHK.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the urgency of rescue efforts, stating, “There are still people waiting to be saved, and this is a race against time. We will mobilize all available resources to save as many as possible.” Authorities are also investigating reports of a possible gas explosion at the Aeon mall, with rescue teams detecting the smell of gas inside the building. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Firefighters, police, and approximately 170 military personnel are focusing their efforts on parts of the building where emergency calls have been received. Over 4,500 soldiers have been dispatched nationwide to assist in recovery efforts. Additionally, seven people are missing after a chimney at a Nippon Paper Industries factory collapsed, and four others are seriously hurt. Hospitals are treating dozens of quake victims.
Throughout Kumamoto Prefecture, where a significant earthquake occurred a decade ago, about 260,000 residents have been directed to evacuation centers. Emergency services reported receiving 386 calls, including pleas for rescue and reports of collapsed structures. The quake’s epicenter was approximately 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto City, the largest city in central Kyushu with around 700,000 residents.
Authorities warn residents in the most affected areas to stay alert for more strong tremors over the next week and to watch for landslides. With temperatures reaching around 34°C (93°F), over 36,000 homes remain without power, raising concerns about heat stroke among affected populations.
One hospital in Uki, near the epicenter, reported being rendered non-operational due to a power outage caused by the earthquake. The hospital’s head described the situation as “like a field hospital,” and another local hospital announced it had suspended new admissions after treating 86 injured patients, including three with severe injuries. Due to the quake, some high-speed train services were halted, with passengers sustaining injuries.
The damage to the Aeon mall drew particular focus. Footage showed one side of the mall, housing approximately 200 stores, ripped apart, exposing steel supports and debris scattered across the parking lot. Aeon representatives confirmed that customers and staff were evacuated immediately following the initial tremor, but the specific cause of the subsequent explosion remains unclear. As a result, Aeon’s stock prices dipped nearly 2% in early trading in Tokyo, while the Nikkei 225 index gained 0.8%.
Major local companies, including Sony, Tokyo Electron, and Honda, announced plans to suspend operations at their facilities through Wednesday. TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, evacuated workers from its local plant but resumed operations late Tuesday. Some roads suffered severe damage, with large cracks disrupting major highways and causing traffic jams.
Japan is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiencing about 20% of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater. A major quake in Kumamoto ten years ago killed 275 people, injured 2,739, and damaged many historic sites, including the city’s castle, a popular tourist attraction. Several historic structures and shrines, including a 17th-century tea house, also suffered damage in Tuesday’s tremors.