TOKYO, Japan — Rescue teams in Japan are racing against time to locate survivors after a powerful earthquake struck the southern island of Kyushu, killing at least 13 people, injuring hundreds and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday afternoon, registering the maximum level of seven on Japan’s shindo seismic intensity scale, which measures the strength of ground shaking.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said authorities were deploying every available resource to rescue those still trapped beneath collapsed structures.
“There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time. We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can,” Takaichi said on Wednesday.
Thousands Evacuated
Government officials said at least 13 people had been confirmed dead, while more than 350 others were treated for injuries ranging from fractures to burns.
Government spokesman Minoru Kihara said more than 9,000 people had sought shelter in 506 evacuation centres across five prefectures, including Kumamoto and Fukuoka.
“We have received reports of seven people with serious injuries and 29 with minor injuries. Furthermore, as of 7:00 am today, 9,186 people have sought refuge in 506 evacuation centres across five prefectures,” Kihara said.
Authorities also instructed approximately 300,000 residents to evacuate as aftershocks continued.
Rescue Operations Intensify
Emergency crews continued searching through collapsed buildings, including a paper mill in Yatsushiro where a chimney collapsed.
Two workers were rescued and rushed to hospital in cardiac arrest, while nine others remained unaccounted for.
An explosion was also reported at an Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto shortly after the earthquake. Two women in their 20s were confirmed dead, while another person reportedly suffered cardiac arrest.
The shopping centre operator said customers and employees had been evacuated after the initial tremor, while government officials said a gas leak had been reported but its exact cause remained under investigation.
Japan’s Self-Defence Forces mobilised 3,600 personnel and deployed 20 aircraft to support rescue and damage assessment operations.
Aftershocks and Landslide Risk
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned that the affected region could experience strong aftershocks and landslides for about a week due to ongoing seismic activity.
By Wednesday morning, more than 60 aftershocks, ranging between magnitudes 1.0 and 4.0, had been recorded.
A tsunami warning issued immediately after the quake was lifted about two hours later.
Nearly 50,000 households remained without electricity, while about 140,000 were without running water. Forecast temperatures exceeding 35°C raised concerns over heatstroke among evacuees, many of whom spent the night in their vehicles fearing further tremors.
Infrastructure Disruptions
The earthquake damaged roads, bridges and buildings, although Japan’s strict seismic building standards helped limit widespread structural collapses.
Officials confirmed five homes had collapsed, while hospitals struggled with power outages, water shortages and damaged equipment.
Rail operator JR Kyushu suspended train services, including bullet trains, while Kumamoto Airport temporarily closed its runway, disrupting flights.
Mobile phone services operated by KDDI and NTT Docomo also experienced outages due to power failures and damaged transmission lines.
Authorities said there were no abnormalities reported at nearby nuclear power stations.
Japan’s Earthquake Preparedness
The earthquake struck about 20 kilometres south of Kumamoto City, home to approximately 700,000 people.
Japan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. The nation experiences frequent seismic activity and has progressively strengthened building regulations following devastating earthquakes over recent decades.
The latest disaster has revived memories of the deadly 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which claimed 275 lives, as well as the catastrophic 2011 magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami that killed or left missing around 18,500 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
