An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck on Tuesday on the island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan, resulting in at least 18 deaths and over 100 injuries. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported that “significant damage has been confirmed, including casualties, collapsed buildings, fires, and road damage.”
At the AEON shopping center in Kashima, on the outskirts of Kumamoto city, the earthquake triggered an explosion on one of the floors. This caused roofs and walls to collapse, exposing the building’s metal framework. Following the explosion, 3,000 people were evacuated, four were killed, and three individuals remained missing. A representative of Aeon, the company managing the complex, clarified that “the explosion occurred after the evacuation of customers and staff.” He added that “eight people were rescued on the spot, including five injured.” Japanese media showed footage of the shopping center, where part of the roof had collapsed, and metal debris and rubble were scattered as rescuers conducted search and rescue operations.
Consequences and warnings
The public broadcaster NHK reported that at least 50 people were taken to hospitals with injuries, and 12 buildings collapsed. Shinji Kiyomoto, who oversees earthquake and tsunami planning, stated at a press conference that the shallow earthquake caused increased seismic activity in the region. He urged residents to exercise caution over the next two to three days due to the risk of another strong earthquake.
Takaichi noted that the central government is preparing to deliver food and other essential goods to the most affected areas. She also expressed condolences to the victims and solidarity with their families, urging those affected by the earthquake to take care of themselves in the hot weather. High-speed train services remained suspended. Although Asso Kumamoto Airport resumed operations on Wednesday, some airlines canceled flights as a precautionary measure.
The earthquake occurred at 16:30 local time and reached the maximum level on the Shindo seismic intensity scale, which measures the strength of underground tremors in Japan. The Japanese army mobilized 3,600 personnel for rescue operations and dispatched 20 aircraft to assess the damage. Amid numerous aftershocks, authorities issued a tsunami warning, which was quickly canceled. In recent hours, videos have circulated on social media showing partially destroyed bridges, shattered buildings, and overturned freight train cars. “This was the strongest earthquake I have ever felt. Walls and windows were damaged. The main gate, declared a national cultural heritage, collapsed,” complained Kanzo Matsumoto, a 73-year-old manager of a hotel with thermal springs in Yatsushiro.
Power supply situation and historical context
Thousands of people were left without electricity. The Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority assured that there were no signs of disruptions at nuclear power plants in the region. However, on Wednesday, about 36,880 households and facilities remained without power in Kumamoto Prefecture, according to Kyushu Electric Power Company.
Kumamoto was previously affected in 2016 by two devastating earthquakes: one with a magnitude of 6.5, followed two days later by another with a magnitude of 7.3. These earthquakes caused 273 deaths and over 2,800 injuries. Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, located at the junction of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” The country still remembers the giant underwater earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 that struck in 2011, which triggered a devastating tsunami that left about 18,500 dead or missing and caused the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Source: La Nación
