Japan is grappling with the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island, leaving at least 13 people dead and dozens missing, officials confirmed.
Details of the Earthquake
The quake, which occurred at 16:27 local time on Tuesday, registered a magnitude of 6.8 according to the US Geological Survey, while Japan's Meteorological Agency initially reported it as 7.1. Kyushu, the country's third-largest island, is no stranger to seismic activity, having experienced deadly quakes in 2016.
Impact on Infrastructure and People
- At least 19 people remain missing following incidents at the Aeon shopping mall and Nippon Paper's Yatsushiro Plant.
- The Aeon Mall suffered a partial collapse and an explosion after evacuation, resulting in three fatalities and multiple rescues.
- A chimney at the paper factory was destroyed, with two workers found in cardiac arrest and nine still unaccounted for.
- Historic structures, including a 400-year-old castle wall, have sustained damage, and a footbridge collapsed, although injury reports remain unclear.
- Power outages have affected nearly 37,000 households, and road damage has disrupted transport.
- Train services on Kyushu, including the Shinkansen bullet trains, were suspended following the quake, stranding passengers overnight.
Ongoing Response
Rescue teams are actively searching for survivors amidst the rubble. Authorities have evacuated close to 10,000 residents and issued multiple aftershock warnings, with over 60 aftershocks recorded so far. A tsunami warning was briefly in effect but was lifted within two hours.
