Japan earthquake authorities launched emergency response operations after a powerful 7.1-magnitude quake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction, power outages and transport disruptions. Officials also fear multiple fatalities following an explosion at a shopping mall that occurred shortly after the tremor.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said emergency teams were still assessing the full scale of the disaster. She confirmed reports of injuries, fires, damaged roads, collapsed buildings and interrupted electricity supplies, while urging residents to evacuate to safe locations as strong aftershocks continued across the region.
The country’s disaster management agency instructed around 300,000 residents to move to evacuation centres. The government also deployed approximately 3,600 military personnel to assist rescue efforts and support recovery operations in the affected communities.
Authorities said several people were trapped inside an Aeon shopping mall after an explosion that followed the earthquake. Police indicated that multiple people were feared dead, while firefighters continued search and rescue operations. The shopping mall operator said customers and employees had been evacuated immediately after the initial quake, and the cause of the explosion remained under investigation.
Hospitals reported more than 50 injuries, while several passengers aboard a high-speed train were also hurt during the earthquake. Television footage showed burning buildings, collapsed structures and major cracks on roads and elevated highways. Rail services were suspended, flights were cancelled or diverted, and Kumamoto Airport temporarily closed its runway.
Major manufacturers including TSMC, Sony and Fujifilm evacuated employees from nearby facilities as a precaution. Around 48,000 households lost electricity, while mobile communication services experienced disruptions due to damaged transmission networks. Japan’s nuclear regulator confirmed that no abnormalities were detected at nearby nuclear power plants.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that strong aftershocks and possible landslides could continue for about a week. Although a tsunami warning was issued immediately after the earthquake, it was later lifted. The latest disaster also caused additional damage to Kumamoto Castle, which had already suffered extensive destruction during the devastating 2016 earthquake.
