At least three people died and more remained missing after a powerful earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday, damaging buildings, disrupting transportation and prompting evacuation orders affecting roughly 300,000 residents
Japan’s Meteorological Agency measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.1. It struck at approximately 4:27 p.m. local time near Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu.
Officials briefly issued a tsunami advisory for nearby coastal areas before lifting it within two hours.
Mall explosion kills two
Two women in their 20s died after an explosion tore through the Aeon Mall Kumamoto following the earthquake, Reuters reported.
Rescuers removed eight people from the damaged shopping center. Five survived with injuries that officials described as not life-threatening, while another person remained in cardiopulmonary arrest.
Authorities continued searching sections of the mall where emergency crews had received calls for help. Investigators were examining whether a gas leak caused the explosion.
Another person died when a separate building collapsed near the earthquake’s epicenter.
Factory workers remain missing
A large chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, leaving multiple workers unaccounted for.
Two hospitals reported treating more than 50 patients each, including some with serious injuries. Several passengers aboard high-speed trains also sustained injuries.
The earthquake damaged roads, bridges and buildings while sparking fires and knocking out power to approximately 48,000 homes.
Rail service across Kyushu stopped, including high-speed bullet trains. Kumamoto Airport closed its runway, forcing airlines to divert or cancel flights.
Toyota, Honda and other major manufacturers halted operations or evacuated employees while inspecting their facilities.
Aftershocks threaten damaged region
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said emergency crews would prioritize rescuing those trapped by collapsed structures.
Firefighters, police officers and members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces worked through the night as aftershocks continued across the region.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned residents to remain alert for additional strong earthquakes and landslides for approximately one week.
Authorities also warned residents about heat-related illness as temperatures were expected to reach 93 degrees Wednesday while thousands of homes remained without electricity.
Officials reported no abnormalities at nearby nuclear power plants.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Japan issued a rare megaquake advisory after a separate magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the country’s northern coast in December.
