Key facts
- A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's Kyushu island.
- The death toll has risen to 28, with hundreds injured.
- Rescue efforts are challenged by extreme heat, aftershocks, and infrastructure damage.
- Tens of thousands are without power and water, and many are in evacuation centers.
- The Japanese military and first responders are involved in disaster relief operations.
A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu, causing widespread damage and a rising death toll that has reached 28. Rescue efforts are underway but are being hampered by extreme heat, with temperatures forecast to exceed 35°C, and the risk of further aftershocks and landslides.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that finding and rescuing survivors is a race against time. The earthquake, which registered a maximum intensity of 7 on Japan's shindo scale, has left tens of thousands without power and water. Over 9,000 people are in evacuation centers, with officials deploying air conditioners to cope with the heat. The Japanese military has mobilized 3,600 personnel and 20 aircraft for disaster relief.
Key sites of damage include a paper mill where a chimney collapsed and an Aeon shopping mall that experienced an explosion and partial collapse, resulting in fatalities. Hospitals are also affected by power and water outages, with many injured treated for burns and fractures from being trapped under debris. The country's strict construction standards have helped limit building collapses, but significant damage to roads, bridges, and five houses has been reported.
Japan, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is highly prone to seismic activity. The region experienced over 60 aftershocks by Wednesday morning. The country is still haunted by the memory of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and a deadly quake in Kumamoto a decade ago.