Magnitude 7.1 Quake Shakes Kumamoto, Japan; Mall Collapses and Many Feared Trapped
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan, cutting power to tens of thousands of homes, damaging roads and bridges, and triggering an explosion at a shopping mall. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government is still assessing the extent of damage and confirming injuries, power outages, and fires. Around 300,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, while hundreds of military personnel were deployed for search and rescue.
The most serious incident occurred at the largest mall in Kumamoto Prefecture, where around 20 to 30 workers are unaccounted for after the explosion. Police say quite a few people are believed to have died. Footage shows part of the building collapsed, with debris scattered. Mall operator Aeon stated all visitors and employees were evacuated before the explosion, but the exact cause is still under investigation.
Dozens of injuries were reported, with two hospitals treating more than 50 and around 40 people respectively, including serious cases. Train services were halted, Kumamoto Airport closed, and several flights cancelled. Several companies, including TSMC, Sony, and Honda, evacuated workers or suspended operations. Japan's Meteorological Agency warned of potential aftershocks over the next week and the risk of landslides, though the tsunami warning was lifted.
The epicenter was 20 km south of Kumamoto City. Kyushu Electric Power reported 48,000 homes without electricity, while cellular disruptions occurred due to network damage. Nuclear authorities confirmed no abnormalities at nuclear power plants. This quake recalls the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake that killed 275 people, and parts of Kumamoto Castle's walls were again reported collapsed. The government urged residents to be cautious of heatstroke with temperatures expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius.
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