Key facts
- The death toll from a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture has reached 17.
- At least 62 people have been injured.
- Rescue operations are ongoing at a damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses.
- High temperatures and a significant aftershock are hindering rescue efforts.
- Thousands of homes are without power and water, with many residents in shelters.
The death toll from a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu has risen to 17, with at least 62 people injured. Rescue efforts are ongoing in the Kumamoto prefecture, focusing on a damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses.
Temperatures are expected to reach 35C, complicating the work of nearly 5,000 Self-Defence Forces personnel. A significant aftershock of magnitude 5.8 hit overnight, further hindering recovery operations. At the Aeon mall in Kashima, where thousands were present during the quake, approximately 170 rescue workers are searching the debris. The company reported that about 3,000 customers were evacuated before a gas explosion occurred in another section of the mall, where some staff remained. Three fatalities have been confirmed among the eight individuals rescued from the mall's rubble.
Footage from the mall showed structural damage, including a caved-in ceiling and scattered debris. The first reported death of a foreign national was a Vietnamese technical intern killed by a falling crane at a factory. Nearly 34,900 homes are still without electricity, and 15,000 lack running water. More than 8,800 people have sought refuge in over 400 shelters, with efforts underway to provide air conditioning. Aerial footage revealed some homes in residential areas were completely flattened.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the government is committed to rescuing as many people as possible, with over 9,000 people taking refuge in 506 shelters across three regions of Kyushu. Some locals described the quake as the strongest they had ever experienced, registering at the highest level of Japan's seismic scale. Japan’s Geospatial Information Authority reported ground displacement of up to 87 centimeters in some areas. The region has sustained extensive damage, including building collapses, fires, and damaged roads.
Several auto and chip manufacturers with plants in Kyushu have halted production, including Toyota, which suspended operations at three plants through Friday due to concerns about suppliers and logistics. Kyushu is a significant hub for Japan's automotive and semiconductor industries. Analysts suggest these factory shutdowns are primarily precautionary measures for worker safety rather than due to facility damage. Japan is highly susceptible to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific "ring of fire".