Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that 13 individuals were discovered deceased following a strong tremor that impacted a portion of southwestern Japan. Search and rescue teams persisted in their efforts to locate missing individuals on Wednesday morning. The Kumamoto region on the southern main island of Kyushu was struck by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake late Tuesday afternoon.
Takaichi emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that there are still people awaiting rescue, and every effort is being made to locate and assist as many individuals as possible. Expressing condolences to the victims and sympathy to their families, Takaichi also advised those affected by the earthquake to take precautions in the hot weather.
Collaborating with rescue teams, Japan’s Self Defense Forces engaged in search and rescue operations at a severely damaged shopping center, providing essential supplies such as water and food to the heavily impacted areas. The Aeon Mall in Kashima Town witnessed the collapse of its second floor, trapping individuals, as reported by the local fire department.
In another incident, a chimney collapsed at the Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s Yatsushiro factory, resulting in individuals being trapped under the debris, according to the Kumamoto emergency team. The affected area is located approximately 900 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, Japan’s capital city.
Authorities confirmed that major public facilities and infrastructure remained intact, with no significant damage reported. Additionally, the Nuclear Regulation Authority stated that no irregularities were detected at three nearby nuclear power plants. Kyodo News disclosed that a hospital in Yatsushiro received around 40 injured individuals, while approximately 50 others were transported to a hospital in Kumamoto city.
Several prominent manufacturers in Kyushu temporarily halted operations on Tuesday as a precautionary measure but found no significant damages and planned to resume activities on Wednesday. The runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was temporarily closed, and there was no immediate information on when it would reopen.
Following the earthquake, a train derailed and tipped over at Yatsushiro station, and damage was observed at the stone walls of Kumamoto Castle, a popular tourist spot that was extensively affected by a previous earthquake in 2016 and is still undergoing repairs. Shinji Kiyomoto from the Japan Meteorological Agency advised residents to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks over the next two to three days.
