Rescue Efforts Ongoing After Deadly Earthquake in Southern Japan

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Kumamoto, a region in southern Kyushu, Japan, late Tuesday afternoon. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported that 13 people have been found dead, as rescue operations continue to locate missing individuals.

Prime Minister Takaichi expressed condolences to the victims’ families and urged those impacted by the earthquake to care for themselves, especially amid the hot weather. The authorities are actively engaged in rescue efforts to save as many people as possible.

The Japanese Self Defense Forces have joined local rescue workers in their operations. They are searching in areas such as a heavily damaged shopping mall while also distributing water and assisting in transferring patients. The government is also working to supply food and essential items to the hardest-hit areas.

There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time.

One significant incident involved the collapse of the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, where individuals were trapped, according to Kumamoto’s fire department. Local officials are investigating reports of an explosion, possibly due to a gas leak. Additionally, a chimney at Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s Yatsushiro factory collapsed, trapping several people. As of Wednesday, seven individuals are feared trapped, though two survivors and two bodies have already been removed.

The affected region is located about 900 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that no irregularities have been detected at three nearby nuclear plants.

Local media, Kyodo News, reported that a hospital in Yatsushiro has treated approximately 40 injured individuals. Another hospital in Kumamoto City took in around 50 people with injuries. Many large manufacturers in Kyushu had temporarily halted operations following the quake but found no significant damage and planned to resume work shortly.

The earthquake also impacted infrastructure. The Aso Kumamoto Airport’s runway remains closed, with no immediate updates on reopening. A train derailed at Yatsushiro Station, and parts of Kumamoto Castle, a popular tourist site already under repair from the 2016 quake, sustained damage.

Officials are urging residents to remain cautious in anticipation of potential aftershocks over the coming days. Hiroki Shimoda, an official at Mifune town hall, recounted roof tiles crashing to the ground, which reminded him of the devastating quake a decade ago. In 2016, Kumamoto experienced a deadly earthquake that resulted in at least 50 fatalities.

Japan Meteorological Agency’s Shinji Kiyomoto advised vigilance due to possible aftershocks in the next few days.