A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7 struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, causing a commercial facility to collapse and leaving dozens of people unaccounted for, according to 時事ドットコム. The quake, which registered a 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, triggered multiple fires and building collapses, with rescue requests flooding in.
The most significant damage occurred at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, where the structure partially collapsed, exposing its steel frame and leaving outer walls stripped away, 時事ドットコム reports. Local media, including the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, described a loud explosion-like sound and white smoke rising from the site. Witnesses told reporters they saw vehicles being thrown by the force of the shaking, and the building's skeleton was left exposed.
The earthquake also severed sections of expressways and trapped approximately 180 people on a Shinkansen bullet train, according to the Mainichi Shimbun. Aerial footage showed collapsed houses and toppled utility poles, with rescue teams working to reach those trapped under debris. The full extent of casualties remains unclear as emergency services continue to search for survivors.
Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious of aftershocks and to avoid damaged structures. The situation is developing, with officials expected to provide updated casualty figures and damage assessments in the coming hours.
