Tokyo (Rajeev Sharma): A powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan has claimed at least 13 lives, triggering widespread destruction, disrupting infrastructure, and prompting a large-scale emergency response. The 7.1-magnitude quake, which hit on Tuesday afternoon, caused buildings to collapse, sparked fires, and forced thousands of households into darkness.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the death toll on Wednesday as rescue teams continued searching for survivors in the worst-affected areas.
One of the most severe incidents occurred at a shopping mall in Kashima, where a suspected gas explosion caused significant structural damage after the building had been evacuated. According to reports, ceilings and walls collapsed following the blast. Eight people were rescued from the site, five of whom sustained injuries. Authorities are still assessing whether additional people remain trapped inside, though access has been hampered by unstable conditions.
At a paper manufacturing facility in Yatsushiro, part of a smokestack collapsed during the quake, leaving several workers unaccounted for. Rescue operations remain underway at the industrial site.
The earthquake also damaged roads, bridges, and railway infrastructure across the region. A freight train reportedly overturned, while sections of roads buckled under the impact of the tremor. High-speed Shinkansen rail services were suspended, and Kumamoto Airport temporarily halted operations before resuming flights later in the day.
Residents described moments of panic as the ground shook violently. Office buildings swayed, traffic signals oscillated, and parts of the historic Kumamoto Castle suffered structural damage. Videos circulating online showed vehicles navigating cracked roads and debris scattered across affected areas.
Power outages affected tens of thousands of homes and businesses across Kumamoto Prefecture, adding to the challenges facing emergency responders.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have deployed around 3,600 personnel along with aircraft to assist in rescue, damage assessment, and relief operations.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 6.8, while Japanese authorities classified it as a magnitude 7.1 event. The quake struck at a relatively shallow depth, increasing the intensity of ground shaking.
Japan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where multiple tectonic plates converge. The latest disaster has once again underscored the country’s vulnerability to major seismic events, even as it maintains some of the world’s most advanced earthquake preparedness systems.
