Tokyo: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale has claimed at least 13 lives in southwestern Japan, triggering widespread destruction, disrupting transport services, and prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the death toll on Wednesday as rescue teams continued search operations in several affected areas.
One of the most severe incidents occurred in the town of Kashima, where a shopping mall was heavily damaged following a suspected gas explosion that took place after the building had been evacuated. According to officials, eight people were rescued from the site, including five who sustained injuries. Authorities are still working to determine whether additional people remain trapped inside, though police believe the number is lower than initially feared.
At a Nippon Paper Industries facility in Yatsushiro, part of a smokestack collapsed during the quake, leaving nine workers unaccounted for, according to local authorities.
The earthquake also caused extensive damage across Kumamoto Prefecture, sparking multiple fires, toppling buildings, damaging bridges, and disrupting road and rail connectivity. A freight train reportedly overturned, while sections of roads cracked under the force of the tremor. Parts of the historic Kumamoto Castle also suffered structural damage.
Power outages affected nearly 37,000 households and facilities, while several highways were closed as engineers assessed infrastructure damage. High-speed Shinkansen train services in the region were temporarily suspended, and Kumamoto Airport halted operations for several hours before reopening later in the day.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at a depth of 10 kilometres, with the powerful tremor striking at approximately 4:27 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as buildings swayed violently. Office workers and residents rushed outdoors, while surveillance footage captured traffic lights, street poles and heavy vehicles shaking during the quake.
In response to the disaster, Japan’s Defence Ministry deployed around 3,600 military personnel along with 20 aircraft to assist in search, rescue and damage assessment operations.
Japan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates converge. The country experiences frequent seismic activity and continues to maintain one of the world’s most advanced disaster preparedness systems following devastating earthquakes, including the catastrophic 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
Authorities have urged residents to remain alert for aftershocks while rescue teams continue efforts to locate missing persons and restore essential services in the affected region.
