A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island, Japan, on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 13 people.
Following the earthquake, several people were presumed dead or had died after an explosion at a shopping mall. Police reported that people were trapped inside the collapsed building, where one side of the structure housing approximately 200 stores was torn away.
An Aeon spokesperson said customers and employees were evacuated immediately after the initial quake, noting that the exact cause of the explosion remains unclear. NTV reported that authorities are investigating a possible gas explosion.
It was a huge impact. A large cloud of smoke billowed up.
Between 20 and 30 workers were reported unaccounted for following the mall explosion. Additionally, NHK reported that multiple people were unaccounted for after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory.
Casualties and Emergency Response
At least 50 people were injured in the earthquake. Two hospitals were each treating more than 50 patients, with some in serious condition. TV Asahi reported that one person died in a building collapse in a town near the epicenter. High-speed train operators also confirmed that several passengers were injured.
Instructed to go to evacuation centres
Hundreds of soldiers were deployed for rescue operations. An immediate tsunami warning was triggered, though it was later lifted. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi asked everyone to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to safe locations.
Infrastructure and Industrial Impact
Major highways sustained damage with large cracks, and rail services were suspended while flights were grounded. As night fell, thousands of homes were without power.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that approximately 100 small aftershocks have hit Kumamoto since the initial jolt. An official from the agency warned residents to remain on alert for further strong earthquakes for about a week and for the risk of landslides.
In the industrial sector, Sony and Fujifilm evacuated workers from their plants. TSMC stated its site was unaffected and operations were gradually resuming.
Authorities warned residents of heatstroke risks as temperatures were projected to reach 34°C (93°F) on Wednesday. Japan accounts for approximately 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or more.
