- A large earthquake hit Japan's Kumamoto prefecture, causing the second floor of a mall to collapse, trapping people inside. Four deaths have been confirmed at the mall site, according to Aeon President Akio Yoshida.
- In nearby Yatsushiro, a chimney collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries factory resulted in five fatalities, with seven others rescued from the debris, according to the Kumamoto prefectural government disaster team.
- In the first reported death of a foreign national, a Vietnamese technical intern was killed after a crane fell on him at a factory where he worked, according to the Vietnamese government.
- As a result of the earthquake, nearly 34,900 homes were left without electricity and some 15,000 homes without running water, according to Kumamoto officials.
- More than 8,800 people have evacuated their homes to stay in over 400 shelters, where power sources are being added to provide air conditioning.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated, “There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time.”
Rescue efforts are ongoing in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck, causing significant destruction, particularly at the Aeon Mall in Kashima. The quake has resulted in four confirmed deaths and 62 injuries, with three individuals still unaccounted for.
The mall was crowded with thousands of shoppers when the earthquake hit, leading to the collapse of its second floor and trapping people inside. Akio Yoshida, president of Aeon, confirmed that four deaths occurred at the mall site, while a gas explosion further complicated rescue efforts.12
In addition to the mall's devastation, a chimney collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in nearby Yatsushiro resulted in five fatalities. The disaster has also affected infrastructure, leaving 34,900 homes without power and 15,000 homes without running water, according to local officials. Over 8,800 residents have evacuated to more than 400 shelters, where efforts are underway to restore power and provide air conditioning amid the ongoing crisis.356
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time.”7
“Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the urgency of rescue operations, stating, 'There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time.' Meanwhile, nearly 34,900 homes remain without electricity, and over 8,800 people have sought refuge in more than 400 shelters.”
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