Powerful Earthquake in Japan: At Least 13 Dead, Rescue Efforts Ongoing for Those Trapped in Shopping Center

A powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan has resulted in at least 13 fatalities, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced. Rescue operations continue for people trapped inside a shopping center in Kumamoto, where many are reported to be stuck. According to an eyewitness, the second floor of the shopping center sustained damage. Japan’s national broadcaster NHK confirmed that three people died at the collapsed Aeon shopping mall.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake measured a magnitude of 6.8 and struck the Kyushu island of Japan at 4:27 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Kumamoto is a city on Kyushu, one of the four main islands, and is the third largest and second most populous island in southern Japan. The Prime Minister expressed condolences for the deceased and thanked emergency responders actively engaged in search and rescue efforts during a morning update. She also noted that many people are still awaiting rescue. “At this moment, there is a race against time,” she said.

Prime Minister Takaichi urged residents and rescue workers to take precautions against heat-related risks given the high temperatures. Rescue operations are ongoing at the Aeon shopping center and other locations. Local authorities in Kumamoto reported that 9,872 people have been relocated to safe areas. Approximately 350,000 households are without electricity. There have also been reports of damaged roads in several areas. Videos broadcast by NHK show collapsed roads and bridges, as well as fires in dozens of buildings.

Because the earthquake originated 10 kilometers below the surface, government agencies have issued warnings about the possibility of powerful aftershocks. Japan is among the countries most susceptible to earthquakes worldwide, detecting over 1,500 earthquakes annually. Last December, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in northeastern Japan injured 30 people. In April 2016, two earthquakes of magnitudes 6.5 and 7.3 within two days resulted in more than 270 deaths. In March 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Japan’s east coast, followed by a massive tsunami, caused over 18,000 fatalities.