7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan, dozens injured
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- Fires and outages affect 45,000 households.
- No tsunami or nuclear plant abnormalities reported.
A strong 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon, collapsing homes, triggering localized fires, and leaving at least 50 people hospitalized.
As for the fatalities,"considerable number" of people have died inside a damaged shopping mall in southwestern Japan following Tuesday's major earthquake, according to broadcaster TBS.
Emergency crews responded to reports that a floor collapsed inside the facility in the town of Kashima, trapping numerous visitors, though local police stated they could not immediately confirm official fatality counts as rescue operations continue.
Local authorities are conducting search and rescue operations amid reports of residents trapped inside damaged buildings across the region.
Building collapses, shopping mall explodes
Public broadcaster NHK reported that at least 12 homes collapsed, trapping occupants under debris.
Trapped individuals were also reported inside a damaged shopping center in Kumamoto, following local police reports of an explosion at the Aeon Mall complex.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that emergency teams are assessing the full scale of injuries and physical destruction, noting that power outages, fires, and structural damage to roads and bridges have been reported across several areas.
Kyushu Electric Power noted that roughly 45,000 households and facilities experienced temporary electricity loss following the tremor.
Major industrial operators in the area, including Sony and TSMC, began assessing conditions at their regional manufacturing facilities.
Tsunami threat
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reassured the public that because the quake occurred inland, no tsunami activity was observed, allowing authorities to prepare for an early lifting of initial coastal advisories.
Nuclear plants remain normal
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that no operational abnormalities were detected at three nearby nuclear power facilities.
Kumamoto previously suffered major seismic activity in 2016 when twin earthquakes killed 273 people and destroyed thousands of structures.
Positioned on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," Japan accounts for nearly 18% of the world's seismic activity, with authorities continuing to urge residents in Kyushu to remain alert for potential aftershocks.
