Japan is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture in the country’s southwestern Kyushu region, leaving at least 13 people dead, dozens injured, and thousands displaced as emergency responders continue desperate rescue operations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 13 following the powerful earthquake that struck on Tuesday afternoon, while nearly 10,000 residents have been forced to seek refuge in evacuation centres.
Addressing the nation, Prime Minister Takaichi said rescuers were still searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
There are still people who are waiting to be rescued and it is a race against time,” she said.
“We will mobilize our full strength to save as many people as possible.”
The government has launched a massive emergency response, deploying approximately 4,600 members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to assist rescue and relief operations.
According to Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, about 170 military personnel are currently involved in search-and-rescue efforts at a collapsed shopping mall in Kumamoto.
In addition, around 480 police officers from 11 prefectures have been mobilized, including a specialist disaster-response rescue unit from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.
One of the worst-hit locations was an Aeon shopping mall in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, where an explosion occurred shortly after the earthquake.
Authorities confirmed that two women died, another woman was found unresponsive, while five others sustained injuries.
Officials said nearly 200 shoppers and workers had been evacuated before part of the building’s second floor collapsed, likely preventing a much higher death toll.
Residents described terrifying scenes as buildings shook violently and power outages plunged neighbourhoods into darkness.
“I went shopping at Aeon yesterday around noon. It’s terrifying to think I could have been caught in what happened,” said a 46-year-old resident now staying in a community evacuation centre after losing electricity at her home.
Industrial facilities also suffered significant damage.
At a Nippon Paper Industries plant, a large smokestack collapsed, leaving two workers seriously injured, two others unresponsive, and seven people reported missing.
Emergency crews continue searching the damaged facility amid concerns over structural instability.
The powerful quake severely disrupted transportation across Kyushu.
Operations on the Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train line remain suspended while engineers inspect tracks and infrastructure for damage.
Although some tram services in Kumamoto City have resumed, authorities warned they could be suspended again if strong aftershocks continue.
Air travel has also been affected.
Japan Airlines (JAL) cancelled 11 domestic flights, while All Nippon Airways (ANA) suspended two services due to the earthquake.
JR Kumamoto Station was packed with stranded commuters attempting to find alternative transportation.
I couldn’t sleep because the earthquakes continued throughout the night. It was more frightening than 10 years ago, said Riko Furuta, a 23-year-old office worker.
Several major companies temporarily halted production as safety inspections continued.
Honda Motor Co. suspended operations at its manufacturing plant in Ozu, while semiconductor equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron Ltd. halted activities at two factories in Kumamoto.
Logistics companies were also affected.
Sagawa Express temporarily suspended parcel collection and deliveries in several affected communities, while Japan Post halted postal services across Kumamoto Prefecture.
Meanwhile, Toyota Motor Kyushu briefly resumed operations at three factories in neighbouring Fukuoka after conducting safety inspections before later announcing another shutdown due to supply chain disruptions and logistical challenges.
The earthquake left several thousand households without electricity, forcing many residents into temporary shelters as authorities worked to restore essential services.
Emergency officials warned residents to remain vigilant, as powerful aftershocks continue to shake the region.
The quake registered the maximum Level 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in parts of Kumamoto—a level capable of throwing people off their feet and causing catastrophic structural damage.
Kumamoto Prefecture experienced one of Japan’s worst earthquake disasters in recent history in April 2016, when twin earthquakes measuring 6.5 and 7.3 magnitudes caused widespread destruction and claimed dozens of lives.
Experts say the latest earthquake may be linked to the same active fault system responsible for the devastating 2016 disaster.
Authorities have urged residents to remain alert, avoid damaged buildings, and prepare for further aftershocks as rescue operations continue across the disaster zone.
