M 7.1 Earthquake Hits Kumamoto Japan, Mall Collapses and Many People Feared Trapped
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Kumamoto, Japan, causing severe damage. Power was cut to tens of thousands of homes, roads and bridges were damaged, and an explosion occurred at a shopping center. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government is still assessing the damage and reports there are injuries, power outages, fires, and collapsed buildings. She urged residents to evacuate to safety immediately. Around 300,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and hundreds of military personnel have been deployed to search for and rescue victims.
A serious incident took place at the largest shopping mall in Kumamoto Prefecture, where 20 to 30 workers are still unaccounted for after the explosion. Authorities say quite a number of people are feared dead. Video shows one side of the mall collapsed, with debris scattered. The mall operator, Aeon, evacuated all visitors and employees after the first quake, but the cause of the explosion is still unknown. A witness heard the explosion from 300 meters away and saw black smoke billowing high.
Hospitals report dozens of injured, including 10 in serious condition. Some bullet train passengers were also hurt. Aftershocks are still occurring on Kyushu Island, while search operations continue. The Nippon Paper Industries factory was also affected, with a collapsed chimney causing workers to go missing.
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