Japan earthquake: More than 100 aftershocks hit after deadly quake that killed 13
A major earthquake in Japan’s Kyushu region triggered a rapid sequence of aftershocks and caused extensive damage across Kumamoto prefecture, with thousands displaced and rescue operations intensifying as heat and ongoing tremors hampered efforts. Authorities warned residents to brace for further strong quakes and pressed for time to reach those buried in rubble, including at a shopping mall and a paper factory where casualties were confirmed. The disaster prompted a large-scale response, with thousands of responders, international attention, and coordination to restore power and prevent heat-related illnesses while measuring evolving seismic data. The outlook centers on ongoing救援 efforts, potential aftershocks, and rebuilding in the coming days, as officials assess the full extent of casualties and infrastructure damage.
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The Kyushu earthquake struck on Tuesday with a magnitude reported as 6.8 by some agencies and 7.1 by others, with a shallow epicenter about 20 km south of Kumamoto city and at a depth of 10 km.
More than 100 aftershocks have rattled the region in the wake of the quake, complicating rescue work and prompting continued warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
At least 13 people were confirmed dead, with many others reported as in cardiopulmonary arrest in preliminary notices; the figure could rise as more individuals are located and identified.
Aeon Mall in Kashima town suffered a collapse and an explosion, with three mall workers confirmed dead and three others missing; around 2,700 people were employed there.
Rescue teams, numbering more than 4,600 personnel, worked through the rubble of a paper factory and other sites, amid temperatures around 35C (95F) and heatstroke precautions.
Defence authorities coordinated aid including the rapid deployment of about 300 air conditioning units to the hardest-hit areas to mitigate heat-related risks during cleanup.
Infrastructure damage included cracked roads and bridges, suspended train services, and widespread power outages as investigators continued to assess the full scope of the damage.