- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit inland on Kyushu island at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT).
- Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her teams had 'been informed that there are already some injured people'.
- Japan’s fire and disaster management agency confirmed that the second floor of a commercial facility collapsed, with many people trapped inside.
- Several people are trapped inside a shopping centre after a strong earthquake hit south-west Japan, according to the local fire service.
- In Kashima town, a shopping complex’s second floor collapsed, leaving many people trapped inside, the local fire department said.
- The earthquake had a depth of 10km and struck Kumamoto prefecture at 4.27pm local time.
- The tremor measured at the highest possible level seven on Japan’s Shindo scale of shaking.
- The Japanese government issued emergency earthquake warnings for several prefectures on Kyushu island.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kyushu island, Japan, at 4:27 PM local time, causing significant damage and injuries. The quake, which hit at a depth of 10km, was felt strongly, measuring the highest level of seven on Japan’s Shindo scale.1
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that her teams had "been informed that there are already some injured people". Emergency services reported that the second floor of a shopping complex in Kashima town collapsed, trapping many individuals inside. The local fire department stated that several people are currently trapped in the damaged shopping center.245
In response to the disaster, the Japanese government has assembled an “Emergency Assembly Team” to manage the situation. Additionally, emergency earthquake warnings were issued for multiple prefectures, including Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki, affecting over 150,000 residents who have been advised to evacuate to shelters. Reports also indicated an explosion at the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto following the earthquake, further complicating rescue efforts.8
As the situation develops, authorities are working diligently to assess the damage and assist those affected by this powerful earthquake.
“The earthquake, which struck at 16:27 local time, has led to power outages and fires in some areas, with significant damage reported to roads and buildings. Over 150,000 residents have been advised to move to evacuation shelters as emergency services respond to the crisis.”
The Guardian
