Key facts
- A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Kumamoto, Japan.
- At least 13 people have died, and hundreds are injured.
- Rescue operations are underway for missing individuals trapped in collapsed structures.
- An explosion at a shopping mall is under investigation.
- Thousands of homes lost power and water, and some hospitals were affected.
- Major companies suspended operations in the region.
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near the southern Japanese city of Kumamoto, killing at least 13 people and injuring hundreds as rescuers frantically searched for survivors trapped beneath rubble. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the situation as a race against time, vowing to marshal all available resources to save lives.
The quake, which followed an earlier 6.8 magnitude tremor, knocked out power to thousands of homes and ruptured roads. Rescuers pulled eight people from the rubble of a partially collapsed shopping mall early Wednesday, but two women were killed in an apparent explosion that ripped the mall apart about an hour after the earthquake. Authorities are investigating a possible gas explosion.
Emergency teams focused on areas of the mall where calls for help had been received. Around 20 to 30 mall workers were unaccounted for, and seven people are missing after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory. Hospitals were treating dozens of patients, with some facilities overstretched due to power outages and damage.
Across Kumamoto prefecture, around 260,000 people were instructed to go to evacuation centers. The quake's epicentre was about 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto City. Authorities warned residents to be alert for further strong quakes and landslides.
Major companies, including Tokyo Electron and Honda, suspended operations at their plants in the area. TSMC evacuated workers from its local plant as a precaution but began resuming operations late Tuesday.