Summary
- Japan’s south‑western Kyushu region has been rattled by more than 100 aftershocks following Tuesday’s powerful earthquake that left at least 13 people dead and many others in critical condition.
- The Aeon Mall in Kashima suffered an explosion shortly after the quake, killing three people and injuring several others.
- In Yatsushiro City, two people were found without signs of life at a factory, while nine others remain unaccounted for.
Japan’s south‑western Kyushu region has been rattled by more than 100 aftershocks following Tuesday’s powerful earthquake that left at least 13 people dead and many others in critical condition.
Rescue teams are working in extreme heat to search for survivors trapped under rubble in Kumamoto prefecture, where a paper factory and a shopping mall were among the worst‑hit sites. The Aeon Mall in Kashima suffered an explosion shortly after the quake, killing three people and injuring several others. Three remain missing as crews continue to sift through debris.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the situation as “truly a race against time,” with thousands sheltering in evacuation centres and widespread power outages reported. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned residents to remain vigilant, saying strong aftershocks with seismic intensity up to 7 could strike in the coming days.
The quake struck Kumamoto at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT) and caused significant damage across the region. In Yatsushiro City, two people were found without signs of life at a factory, while nine others remain unaccounted for.
Officials say the scale of destruction is still being assessed, but the combination of collapsed buildings, fires and aftershocks has left communities deeply shaken.
