At least 13 people have been confirmed dead after a powerful earthquake struck Japan’s south-western Kyushu region, with rescue teams continuing an urgent search for survivors as more than 100 aftershocks rattled the area.
The magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction across Kumamoto Prefecture and prompting thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Japanese officials also reported that several people remain in cardiopulmonary arrest, a term commonly used before deaths are officially confirmed.
Emergency crews are working around the clock to search collapsed buildings, including a paper factory and the heavily damaged Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, where an explosion occurred shortly after the earthquake.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the rescue effort as “truly a race against time,” stressing that many victims could still be trapped beneath the rubble. More than 4,600 emergency personnel have been deployed to assist rescue operations while thousands of residents remain in evacuation centres without electricity.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned residents to remain vigilant, saying strong aftershocks could continue over the coming week, particularly during the next two to three days. Officials cautioned that further earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of 7 remain possible.
Rescue operations are focused on Aeon Mall, where part of the second floor collapsed during the disaster. Images from the scene showed heavy structural damage, with large sections of the building’s exterior torn away and smoke rising shortly after the explosion.
Aeon Mall President Akio Yoshida confirmed that three people were killed in the blast while three employees remain missing. Approximately 2,700 people worked at the shopping complex at the time of the disaster. Four people were taken to hospital, including one individual rescued from a restroom, while another remained in cardiopulmonary arrest.
Yoshida expressed condolences to the victims’ families and apologized for the tragedy during a news conference.
Elsewhere, authorities reported severe damage at a paper factory in Yatsushiro City, where two people were found with no signs of life and nine others remain missing. Rescue workers continue to search through debris despite difficult conditions.
The recovery effort has been complicated by extreme summer temperatures reaching about 35°C (95°F). Officials have urged both rescue teams and displaced residents to take precautions against heat-related illnesses while cleanup operations continue.
Defence Minister Shinjirō Koizumi announced that around 300 air-conditioning units would be airlifted into Kumamoto Prefecture for distribution to evacuation centres and the hardest-hit communities.
The earthquake’s epicentre was located approximately 20 kilometres south of Kumamoto City at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometres, increasing the intensity of ground shaking. While the Japan Meteorological Agency initially measured the quake at magnitude 7.1, the United States Geological Survey later revised the magnitude to 6.8, a common adjustment as additional seismic data becomes available.
The powerful tremor damaged roads, bridges and buildings across the region, while several fires broke out in the immediate aftermath. Railway services were suspended and power outages affected thousands of households.
Residents awoke on Wednesday to scenes of widespread devastation, including collapsed structures and damaged cultural landmarks such as the historic worship hall at Yatsushiro Shrine.
Among those affected was 75-year-old Hiroko Ogata, who was working at her restaurant in Yatsushiro City when the earthquake struck. She said the violent shaking was unlike anything she had experienced in her lifetime and left her fearing for her life.
American tourist Chantel Mohar, who was travelling with her family in Kumamoto, said passengers on their tour bus received emergency earthquake alerts moments before the vehicle began shaking violently. She described the experience as confusing and frightening as people struggled to understand what was happening.
With aftershocks continuing and several people still unaccounted for, Japanese authorities have warned that rescue operations remain critical as emergency teams race to locate survivors beneath collapsed buildings.
