A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in several presumed deaths and leaving numerous people trapped inside a shopping center following an explosion. The quake hit inland on Kyushu island at 16:27 local time, with the epicenter located approximately 20km (12 miles) south of Kumamoto, the island’s largest city according to the BBC.
Aeon Mall Explosion and Rescue Efforts
The most severe incident occurred at the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, where local media and reports indicate an explosion took place. The fire department stated that the mall’s second floor collapsed, leaving many people trapped inside.
Footage of the scene showed white smoke rising from the building and large sections of the exterior blown off, exposing the underlying steel beams.
Casualties and Infrastructure Damage
Authorities are still assessing the full extent of injuries and property damage. NHK reported that at least 50 people are being treated in hospital, including about 10 individuals from an elderly care home. A hospital in Yatsushiro city specifically reported accepting about 40 injured people uk.news.yahoo.com.
The earthquake caused widespread disruption to transport and utilities:
- Power: Kyushu Electric Power reported that approximately 40,000 homes lost electricity.
- Rail: Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains in Kyushu were suspended for safety checks. One train derailed and fell on its side at Yatsushiro station.
- Aviation: The Aso Kumamoto Airport runway was closed, with a website notice stating there was “no prospect of resuming operations.”
- Roads: Aerial views showed damage to the Kyushu Expressway in Yatsushiro.
Additional damage was reported at Kumamoto Castle, where portions of stone walls already under repair collapsed. In the town of Mashiki, a Shinto shrine priest, Yozo Kai, reported that several stone lanterns fell.
Government Response and Public Safety
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the deployment of 3,600 soldiers to assist with disaster recovery. The government has established a task force to gather information and prepare for rescue operations. Takaichi urged residents to remain vigilant for aftershocks and warned those cooking to be cautious of fire and broken glass.
The disaster management agency stated that approximately 300,000 people were instructed to move to evacuation centers. While a tsunami advisory was issued for the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas—covering the coasts of Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, and Saga prefectures—the Japan Meteorological Agency reported that no tsunami was observed and the advisory was lifted within two hours.
Nuclear Safety and Regional Context
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the earthquake caused no safety issues or damage at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, located about 100km from the epicenter. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority also reported no abnormalities at three other nearby nuclear plants.
This event follows a history of seismic activity in the region. A decade ago, in April 2016, Kumamoto was struck by a series of earthquakes, including a magnitude 7 event. Reports on that disaster vary, with NHK stating 278 people were killed, while other reports cite more than 50 deaths and 1,800 injuries.
Shinji Kiyomoto, a planning officer with the Japan Meteorological Agency, noted that the shallow earthquake is triggering active seismic activity, advising residents to be especially cautious over the next two to three days.
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