- Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima reportedly suffered a explosion as a result of the quake, with two people confirmed dead.
- About 300,000 people had been instructed to go to evacuation centres, according to the country’s disaster management agency.
- Transport services such as bullet trains and Kumamoto airport have been suspended in the wake of the quake.
- The explosion ripped through the mall, exposing the structure's steel beams and catapulting debris across the parking lot, while first responders rescued eight people, including three dead.
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated it was a "race against time" to rescue those still trapped, with around 170 soldiers deployed for rescue operations.
- Nearly 50,000 households were without power late on Tuesday, along with 140,000 without water.
- The mall, the biggest in the prefecture, had recently undergone redevelopment to improve safety features after being damaged in the 7.3 Kumamoto earthquake in April 2016.
- Despite the chaos, staff evacuated more than 200 shoppers and workers to a car park, although some returned to the building before the explosion.
- More than 100 aftershocks occurred in Kumamoto by the end of Tuesday, complicating rescue efforts.
- Some rescue workers reported smelling gas, prompting warnings from authorities about a possible gas leak at the mall.
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto prefecture, causing significant destruction and chaos. The quake, which registered a 7 on Japan’s shindou intensity scale, led to an explosion at the Aeon Mall in Kashima, resulting in two confirmed deaths and extensive damage.
As a result of the earthquake, 300,000 residents were instructed to evacuate to safety, with nearly 50,000 households left without power and 140,000 without water. Transport services, including bullet trains and Kumamoto airport, were suspended, complicating rescue efforts.38
An Aeon spokesperson confirmed that customers and employees were evacuated before the explosion, which occurred shortly after the initial quake. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment when the explosion ripped through the mall, exposing steel beams and sending debris flying across the parking lot. First responders initially hesitated to enter the wreckage but managed to rescue eight individuals from the partially collapsed site.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating it was a “race against time” to rescue those trapped. Around 170 soldiers have been deployed to assist in the ongoing rescue operations, as the region continues to experience aftershocks, with over 100 recorded by the end of Tuesday.67
The Aeon Mall, the largest in the prefecture, had recently undergone renovations to enhance its seismic resilience following a previous earthquake in 2016. Despite the chaos, staff managed to evacuate over 200 shoppers and employees, although some returned to the building before the explosion occurred.1112
“Nearly 50,000 households were left without power and 140,000 without water following the quake. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized it was a 'race against time' to rescue those trapped, with around 170 soldiers deployed for ongoing rescue operations.”
The Guardian
