Japan Earthquake Kills 13, Search For Survivors Continues

Part of the compound of the Shohinken garden is seen damaged in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, on 29 July, 2026, after an earthquake struck the area the day before.

At least 13 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake struck southwestern Japan, with rescue teams continuing efforts to reach survivors feared trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu island on Tuesday afternoon, causing widespread destruction, triggering fires and leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday that 13 people had died, adding that authorities were still verifying whether all the fatalities were directly linked to the earthquake.

"Extensive damage has been confirmed, including casualties, collapsed buildings, fires and damage to roads," she told reporters.

Among the victims were two women who died at a shopping mall in the town of Kashima, while three others were killed elsewhere on Kyushu, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. At least seven people were reported to have sustained serious injuries.

Authorities believe a gas explosion severely damaged the shopping mall after customers and staff had already evacuated the building, causing ceilings and walls to collapse.

A spokesperson for the mall's operator said the explosion occurred after the evacuation. Eight people were rescued from the site, five of whom were injured.

Although initial reports suggested 20 to 30 people might be trapped inside the mall, police later indicated the number was likely lower.

"The exact number is not known. It is certain that staff members are trapped, but it is unclear whether any members of the public are among them," police said, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Rescue teams have yet to enter the building because no safe access route has been identified.

At a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, where part of a smokestack collapsed, local authorities said nine people remained unaccounted for.

The earthquake also left around 36,880 households and facilities across Kumamoto without electricity on Wednesday morning.

The tremor struck at 4:27pm local time on Tuesday at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometres. The United States Geological Survey measured the earthquake at magnitude 6.8, while Japanese authorities recorded it at magnitude 7.1 and the highest level on the country's Shindo seismic intensity scale.

The quake sparked multiple fires, damaged roads and bridges, toppled buildings and caused part of a pedestrian bridge to collapse into a river. A freight train also overturned.

Residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook violently.

"The office swayed violently from side to side. I was afraid it would collapse. Everyone panicked," said Chiharu Hara, who was working in Kumamoto when the quake struck.

Video footage showed vehicles navigating buckled roads, traffic lights and heavy machinery swaying, while parts of the historic Kumamoto Castle were seen collapsing.

Transport services were also disrupted, with several roads closed, high-speed Shinkansen train services suspended across the region and Kumamoto Airport temporarily shutting down before reopening later on Tuesday.

Japan's military has deployed about 3,600 personnel and 20 aircraft to support search, rescue and damage assessment operations.

Japan lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", one of the world's most seismically active regions, and experiences hundreds of earthquakes each year.

The country continues to bear the memory of the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011, which claimed about 18,500 lives and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster.