Japan Earthquake: What We Know So Far
A powerful earthquake has hit the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, killing at least 13 people and leaving rescuers searching for survivors trapped under collapsed buildings, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
Emergency crews are conducting ongoing search-and-rescue operations throughout Kumamoto Prefecture, where damage is widespread. Power outages, damaged infrastructure and repeated aftershocks that have forced nearly 10,000 residents to evacuate are hampering recovery efforts, authorities say.
Officials caution that casualty figures and damage assessments are likely to change as rescue operations continue.
Where and when did the earthquake occur?
The quake hit Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu at 4:27 p.m. local time (0727 GMT) Tuesday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the quake was of magnitude 7.1. Initially, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) had put it at 6.8. Such differences are common as agencies update their calculations with new seismic data.
The quake prompted hundreds of thousands of residents to seek shelter in emergency shelters.
Kyushu, Japan's third largest main island, has a long history of significant seismic activity. A series of strong quakes in Kumamoto and neighbouring Oita prefectures in 2016 killed 278 people.
Aeon mall rescue
One of the hardest hit sites was an Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto.
Three people were killed at the mall, said a prefectural disaster management official. Rescue efforts have saved at least eight people, and authorities have not confirmed how many are still trapped.
Witnesses reported seeing smoke and an explosion soon after the quake. The mall operator told AFP the explosion happened after customers and staff had evacuated the building.
Parts of the second floor are said to have collapsed, and some injured shoppers were taken to hospital.
Damage in Kumamoto
In other parts of Kumamoto Prefecture, the earthquake caused serious damage.
NHK said police reported a chimney had fallen at Nippon Paper’s Yatsushiro Plant. Two workers were found in cardiac arrest, and nine others remain missing, disaster management officials said.
Historic stone walls at Kumamoto Castle also fell. The devastating earthquakes of 2016 also damaged the landmark and destroyed parts of its centuries-old structure.
A pedestrian footbridge also collapsed, authorities said. It was not known if anyone was injured.
Road damage has been reported across the region, and roughly 36,700 households are still without power.
Transport disruption and secondary shocks
Rail services throughout Kyushu have been suspended after the earthquake.
Seven people were hurt on Kyushu Shinkansen bullet trains, NHK says. Damage to tracks forced some passengers to remain on stranded trains overnight.
The JMA said there were more than 60 aftershocks, with magnitudes from 1 to 4. Officials have continued to warn residents to stay alert for additional seismic activity
Within two hours, the tsunami warning was lifted.
