A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook southern Japan on Tuesday afternoon, leaving at least 50 people injured and trapping an unknown number inside a shopping mall in Kumamoto prefecture. The quake struck the southern Kyushu island, knocking out power to thousands of homes and damaging roads, bridges, and buildings.
Casualties and Damage
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed injuries and damage, stating, "We have already been informed that people have been injured. Power outages and fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings." An explosion at an Aeon shopping mall shortly after the quake trapped many people, with fire services reporting "many people" trapped. Broadcaster TBS reported police said "quite a few" were presumed dead. NHK stated 20 to 30 workers at the mall were unaccounted for. An Aeon spokesperson said customers and employees were evacuated after the initial quake, and the cause of the explosion remains unclear.
Evacuations and Aftershocks
About 300,000 people have been instructed to go to evacuation centers, the disaster management agency said. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that areas with the biggest tremors remain at risk of further strong quakes and landslides for about a week, as the shallow earthquake triggers active seismic activity. Over 60 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 1 to 4 have been recorded. A tsunami warning was issued but lifted within two hours.
Additional Casualties
Kyodo News reported one person killed when a house collapsed in southwest Japan. One hospital reported more than 50 injuries, another about 40, including 10 in serious condition, according to NHK. Several people on a high-speed train were injured, and multiple people were unaccounted for after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory.
Epicenter and Magnitude
The quake's epicenter was about 12 miles (20 km) south of Kumamoto, central Kyushu's largest city with a population of 700,000. The US Geological Survey initially reported magnitude 7.1 but revised it to 6.8.
