Japan Quake Death Toll Rises to 13
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake in southern Japan has killed at least 13 people, as emergency teams continue searching damaged buildings for survivors. The disaster struck near Kumamoto on Kyushu island, causing structural collapses, power outages and widespread transport disruption.
Rescuers Search Collapsed Kumamoto Mall
Rescue teams pulled eight people from the rubble of a partially collapsed shopping centre in Kashima town. Two women in their twenties were confirmed dead after a suspected gas explosion struck the building around an hour after the earthquake.
Emergency personnel concentrated their search on areas where calls for help had been heard. Around 20 to 30 mall employees remained unaccounted for as firefighters, police officers and military personnel worked through the debris.
Japan Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 13
Additional casualties were reported across the earthquake zone as buildings and industrial structures collapsed. Seven people remained missing after a chimney fell at a paper manufacturing facility in Yatsushiro, while four others suffered serious injuries.
More than 4,500 members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces were deployed to support rescue and relief operations. Authorities urged approximately 260,000 residents to seek shelter amid concerns about strong aftershocks and landslides.
Power Outages Disrupt Southern Japan
More than 36,000 homes remained without electricity, raising concerns about heat-related illness during high summer temperatures. Hospitals treated dozens of injured people, while some facilities faced power interruptions and reached capacity.
High-speed train services were suspended, Kumamoto Airport experienced disruption and several major manufacturers temporarily halted operations for safety inspections.
A tsunami advisory issued after the earthquake was later lifted. Authorities reported no abnormalities at nuclear power plants near the affected region.
