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By Newzyy Staff — 5h ago
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake has struck the Kumamoto prefecture in southern Japan, causing widespread damage and potentially claiming lives. An explosion occurred at the Aeon shopping mall shortly after the quake, trapping "many people" inside, with police estimating that "quite a few" may have been killed. The authorities have initiated rescue operations, with the police, fire department, and Self-Defense Forces working to locate survivors. So far, four people have been rescued from the mall, but their conditions are not life-threatening. However, the whereabouts of 10 people remain unknown, and fears about the number of fatalities continue to grow.
According to reports, gas was leaking at the mall, but this has been shut off. Footage captured at the scene shows the devastating impact of the quake, with one side of the mall torn away, exposing steel beams and debris scattered across the adjacent car park. In addition to the reported explosion at the Aeon shopping mall, a chimney collapse at Nippon Paper Industries Yatsushiro plant has also resulted in two people being in cardiac arrest and nine others missing, prompting the fire department to report nine people in need of rescue. The quake has also caused fires, power outages, and significant damage to roads and bridges, leaving thousands of homes without electricity.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Japanese government has instructed 300,000 people in the area to seek shelter at evacuation centres. The prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has asked residents to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to a safe location. The Kumamoto prefecture is already vulnerable due to its history of destructive earthquakes, with the area having been devastated by a magnitude 7.3 quake in 2016.