- A 7.1 magnitude quake hit Japan's southern Kyushu island, resulting in dozens of injuries and reports of missing persons.
- In Kashima Town, the quake collapsed the second floor of the Aeon Mall shopping center, trapping an unknown number of people there. Four people were pulled out with injuries and taken to a hospital, while 10 others were unaccounted for.
- At the Nippon Paper Industries Co.'s Yatsushiro factory, where a chimney collapsed and the building was damaged, 11 people were trapped underneath the debris. Two of them were later found without vital signs.
- The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said more than 260,000 people were advised to evacuate, most of them in Kumamoto prefecture, but also in the neighboring Nagasaki prefecture.
- Kumamoto police have received more than 100 emergency calls following the quake.
- A hospital in the city of Yatsushiro took in about 40 people with injuries and about 50 others were taken to a hospital in Kumamoto city.
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu late Tuesday afternoon, leading to significant damage and injuries.
Reports indicate that the quake caused collapses in buildings, including the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, where four people were rescued with injuries and ten others remain unaccounted for.23
At the Nippon Paper Industries Co.'s Yatsushiro factory, a chimney collapsed, trapping eleven individuals beneath the debris, with two confirmed dead and the status of the remaining nine unknown.458
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that over 260,000 residents were advised to evacuate, primarily in Kumamoto but also in neighboring Nagasaki.6
Emergency services received over 100 calls following the quake, with hospitals in Yatsushiro and Kumamoto city treating approximately 90 injured individuals.
A tsunami advisory was briefly issued but was lifted within two hours, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the extent of the damage, including blackouts and fires across the region, as officials continue to assess the aftermath of this powerful earthquake.
“The earthquake has led to significant infrastructure damage, including the collapse of the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, trapping several individuals. Additionally, a hospital in Yatsushiro has treated about 40 injured people, while 50 others were taken to a facility in Kumamoto city.”
AP News
