A powerful earthquake in Japan has left at least 13 people dead in the south-western Kyushu region, with rescue teams continuing searches for survivors after more than 100 aftershocks struck the area.
The earthquake hit on Tuesday, causing widespread damage in Kumamoto prefecture, where emergency crews are working under extreme heat to search collapsed buildings, including a paper factory and a shopping mall.
Many others have been reported in “cardiopulmonary arrest”, a term used in Japan during initial reports before deaths are officially confirmed.
Race against time for trapped survivors
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the rescue operation as “a race against time” as thousands of residents remain in evacuation centres and many areas continue to face power outages.
More than 4,600 personnel have been deployed to support rescue efforts, while officials have warned emergency workers and residents to take precautions against heatstroke as temperatures reach around 35°C.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has urged residents to remain alert for further strong earthquakes, particularly over the coming days.
“For the next week or so, especially the next two to three days, we would like people to watch out for potential earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of 7,” a JMA official said.
Shopping mall explosion adds to devastation
Rescue crews are searching the remains of Aeon Mall in Kashima town, where part of the second floor collapsed following the quake.
Footage from the scene showed smoke rising from the building as people rushed into the car park, while parts of the exterior were destroyed, exposing steel structures.
Aeon Mall President Akio Yoshida confirmed that three people were killed in the explosion at the shopping centre, while three others who worked there remain missing.
Four people were taken to hospital, including one person rescued from a restroom and another reported to be in cardiopulmonary arrest.
“We sincerely apologise for this incident,” Yoshida said during a press conference.
Damage reported across Kumamoto
Further damage was reported at a factory in Yatsushiro City, where two people were found with no signs of life and nine others remained unaccounted for, according to NHK.
The earthquake also damaged roads and bridges, caused fires and disrupted train services, while thousands of homes lost electricity.
The JMA initially measured the quake at magnitude 7.1, while the US Geological Survey later recorded it as magnitude 6.8. The earthquake had a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres, with its epicentre located approximately 20 kilometres south of Kumamoto city.
Residents describe moments of fear
Residents across Kumamoto awoke to scenes of destruction, including collapsed buildings and damaged historic structures such as the worship hall of the 19th-century Yatsushiro Shrine.
Hiroko Ogata, 75, told the BBC she was at the restaurant she runs in Yatsushiro City when the earthquake struck.
“All of a sudden there was a big jolt, and I was surprised and scared… I have lived here for 75 years, but I have never experienced such a big quake,” she said.
American tourist Chantel Mohar, who was visiting Kumamoto with her family, said earthquake alerts sounded on passengers’ phones while they were travelling on a tourist bus.
“There was just a lot of rocking and confusion,” she told the BBC.
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