Powerful earthquake in Japan kills at least 18 as rescuers search collapsed buildings for survivors
Rescue crews searched through collapsed buildings and a heavily damaged shopping mall Wednesday as the death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan rose to at least 18, including one foreign national.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region on Kyushu, Japan’s southern main island, leaving at least 62 people injured, including six who suffered serious injuries. Officials warned the number of casualties could increase as search efforts continued.
One of the hardest-hit locations was an Aeon Mall shopping center in Kashima, where thousands of people were inside when the earthquake struck. The mall said about 3,000 shoppers were evacuated to a parking area before a gas explosion occurred in another section of the building where workers were still present.
Fumika Ono, 19, was shopping with her sister when the shaking became so intense that she lost her balance and fell to the ground for safety. She said children screamed as merchandise fell from shelves, but she and many other shoppers were able to escape.
Emergency crews faced extreme heat while searching for survivors, with concerns growing over anyone still trapped. The second floor of the mall collapsed, and witnesses said the explosion caused additional destruction.
Four people were confirmed dead at the mall site, while three others remained missing. Company officials expressed regret over the loss of life and said they were taking the incident seriously.
Images from the scene showed collapsed ceilings, scattered debris and rescue workers wearing helmets and protective gear searching through the wreckage.
Residents compared the earthquake to a deadly 2016 quake in the same region that killed 50 people. Kiyoshi Matsunaga, 74, said he was shopping nearby when the shaking began, causing items to fall from shelves and leaving him unable to move.
The earthquake also damaged historic landmarks, including a pair of temple gates at a 16th-century Buddhist temple in the Nuyamazu district. The gates had recently undergone repairs.
Yuki Kiyozumi, a deputy chief priest at the temple, said the shaking was so violent that she had to crawl across the floor. She later worked to clean up damaged belongings while uncertain whether the historic structures could be rebuilt.
In Yatsushiro, five people were killed after a chimney collapsed at a paper manufacturing facility. Seven others were rescued, while four people were believed to remain trapped.
A Vietnamese worker became the first reported foreign victim after a crane fell on him at a factory where he was employed. Seven other Vietnamese workers at the facility were able to escape, while another Vietnamese woman was hospitalized after being injured when a wall collapsed.
The earthquake disrupted daily life across the region, leaving nearly 34,900 homes without electricity and about 15,000 without running water. More than 8,800 residents evacuated to hundreds of shelters, where officials worked to provide cooling systems amid the hot weather.
Aerial footage showed homes completely destroyed, with some structures collapsing into nearby waterways.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces joined firefighters, police and other emergency responders in rescue operations. Hundreds of personnel assisted in the search, including firefighters from Taiwan.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said rescuing those still trapped remained the government’s top priority and pledged to provide aid, food and other necessities to affected communities.
Transportation remained disrupted Wednesday, with bullet train services suspended. Operations resumed at Aso Kumamoto Airport, though some flights were canceled as a precaution.
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