Rescue Operations Intensify After Deadly Earthquake Strikes Southwestern Japan

Rescue teams are continuing search operations in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake claimed at least 28 lives and left hundreds injured.

The quake, which struck on Tuesday and registered the highest level on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, caused widespread destruction across the prefecture. Among the worst-hit locations was a major shopping mall in Kashima, where an explosion believed to have been caused by a gas leak triggered a partial building collapse, killing several employees. Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the blast.

Another deadly incident occurred at a paper mill in Yatsushiro, where a smokestack collapsed during the earthquake, leaving workers dead and others missing.

Emergency responders, including police, firefighters, and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, have been deployed across affected communities as efforts continue to locate missing persons. Thousands of residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters while authorities assess the full extent of the damage.

The disaster also disrupted essential services, leaving tens of thousands of households without electricity and running water. Transportation infrastructure suffered significant damage, with sections of expressways closed and parts of the Kyushu Shinkansen rail network suspended due to damaged tracks and safety barriers.

Officials have warned that strong aftershocks could continue over the coming days and urged residents to remain alert as recovery operations continue.

The latest disaster has revived memories of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which killed hundreds and caused widespread destruction across the region.