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Rescue teams in Japan are racing against time to find survivors after a powerful earthquake struck the southwestern Kumamoto region, killing at least 13 people and leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
The 7.1-magnitude quake hit on Tuesday, flattening homes, sparking fires, damaging bridges, and cutting power to tens of thousands. Authorities say the full scale of devastation is still unfolding as emergency crews struggle to reach those feared trapped under collapsed structures.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the death toll on Wednesday, citing extensive damage across the region, including collapsed buildings, fires, and disrupted infrastructure.
Government spokesman Minoru Kihara said at least seven others were seriously injured, while more than 9,000 people have taken shelter across 506 evacuation centres on Kyushu island.
The quake, which registered at the highest level on Japan’s shindo intensity scale, left residents shaken. “It was the strongest quake I ever experienced,” said Kanzo Matsumoto, a 73-year-old inn operator in Yatsushiro. Others described scenes of panic as buildings swayed violently.
In one of the hardest-hit incidents, two women were killed at a shopping mall in Kashima, reportedly devastated by a gas explosion shortly after the quake. Rescue workers combed through twisted debris as they searched for survivors. Eight people were pulled from the wreckage, several with injuries.
Elsewhere, nine people remain missing at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro after part of a smokestack collapsed onto the site. Authorities are continuing search operations amid concerns that more victims may be trapped.
Infrastructure damage has further complicated rescue efforts. Roads have cracked, a cargo train was derailed, and high-speed shinkansen services remain suspended. Parts of the historic Kumamoto Castle were also damaged, while the airport briefly shut down before resuming operations.
Japan’s military has deployed around 3,600 personnel and multiple aircraft to support relief efforts and assess the scale of destruction from the air.
Situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. The nation continues to carry the scars of the devastating 2011 quake and tsunami that killed or left missing around 18,500 people.
As aftershocks continue, authorities warn the situation remains critical, with rescue teams working urgently to save lives and stabilise affected communities.
