Tokyo: Rescue workers in Japan continued an urgent search for survivors on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake struck the southern island of Kyushu, killing at least 13 people and leaving hundreds injured. Emergency crews worked through the night to pull people from collapsed buildings, including a shopping mall where several people were trapped beneath piles of concrete and twisted steel.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, shaking a wide area and causing widespread damage to homes, businesses, roads and public infrastructure. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise further as rescue teams continued to search damaged buildings and areas cut off by landslides. Strong aftershocks have continued since the main quake, making rescue work slow and dangerous.
One of the biggest rescue operations has been taking place at an Aeon shopping mall in Kashima Town, where part of the building collapsed during the earthquake. Officials said an explosion believed to be linked to a gas leak occurred about an hour after the quake, causing even more damage. Several people were pulled alive from the rubble, but at least three later died from their injuries. Four employees were still believed to be missing as emergency teams used heavy machinery, sniffer dogs and specialised equipment to search for survivors.
Elsewhere in the disaster zone, rescue workers also responded to a factory accident after a large chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries plant. Workers were trapped inside the facility and emergency crews continued efforts to reach them safely. Search operations were also under way in residential neighbourhoods where houses had collapsed or suffered severe structural damage.
The earthquake caused serious disruption across Kumamoto and neighbouring prefectures. Roads cracked, bridges were damaged and several railway services, including parts of the Shinkansen bullet train network, were suspended while engineers inspected tracks and stations. Some airport operations were temporarily affected before services gradually resumed.
Historic Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan's best known cultural landmarks, also suffered fresh damage. Officials reported that sections of its stone walls had collapsed, adding to concerns about preserving the centuries old site, which was previously damaged during the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes of 2016.
More than 260,000 residents were placed under evacuation orders as authorities warned of possible landslides and additional building collapses. Thousands of people spent the night in emergency shelters, schools and community centres. Many evacuation centres faced extremely hot weather, prompting officials to provide water, food and medical support to prevent heat related illnesses.
Power outages remained a major problem, with around 36,000 to 37,000 households still without electricity. Gas supplies were disrupted in several communities, while communication services were also affected in some areas. Utility companies continued repair work, although officials warned that restoring full services could take several days.
Hospitals across the affected region struggled to cope with the large number of injured people. Some medical facilities experienced power interruptions or structural damage, forcing patients to be transferred to hospitals outside the disaster zone. Medical teams from other parts of Japan were sent to support local health workers treating the injured.
The disaster also affected Japan's manufacturing industry. Major companies, including Toyota, Honda, Sony and Renesas Electronics, temporarily suspended operations at some facilities while engineers carried out safety inspections. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also evacuated its Kumamoto plant as a precaution before assessing the site for possible damage.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the rescue effort as a race against time and said the government's highest priority was saving lives. Thousands of members of the Self Defense Forces, firefighters, police officers and disaster response specialists have been deployed across the affected region to assist with rescue operations, evacuations and the delivery of emergency supplies.
Japan's Meteorological Agency has warned that strong aftershocks could continue for several days and urged residents to remain alert. Authorities also cautioned people living near hillsides and rivers to be prepared for landslides, particularly if heavy rain follows the earthquake.
Japan is one of the world's most earthquake prone countries and has some of the strictest building standards designed to reduce earthquake damage. Even so, officials said older buildings remain vulnerable during powerful earthquakes, and this latest disaster has once again highlighted the country's ongoing challenge of protecting lives and infrastructure from major seismic events.