7.1-magnitude earthquake jolts Japan; several trapped in mall after explosion
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto region, trapping several people inside a shopping mall after an explosion, with authorities reporting multiple injuries, collapsed buildings and widespread disruptions.
Several people were injured, buildings collapsed and many people were trapped inside a shopping mall after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto region on Tuesday, knocking out power to around 40,000 homes, disrupting transport and prompting large-scale evacuations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said several injuries, collapsed buildings and fires had been reported following the quake.
"We are still assessing the extent of injuries and property damage, but I have been informed that there have already been several injuries. Power outages and fires are happening in some areas, and roads and bridges have been damaged and buildings collapsed," she said.
The strongest impact was reported in Kumamoto, where emergency services said "many people" were trapped inside the Aeon Mall after part of the building collapsed. According to local media reports, an explosion also occurred at the shopping centre following the earthquake.
In the town of Kashima, the fire department said the second floor of a shopping complex collapsed, leaving many people trapped inside.
In a major development, Kumamoto Police said there were "quite a few" presumed dead following the explosion at the Aeon Mall, broadcaster TBS reported. Rescue operations were continuing.
Emergency earthquake warnings were issued for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures on Japan's southern Kyushu island.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to 1 metre and urged residents in coastal areas to remain alert. However, it was lifted later.
Kyushu Electric Power said approximately 40,000 households were left without electricity following the quake. Railway operator JR Kyushu suspended train services, including its high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) operations, as a precaution, news agency Reuters reported.
The quake also raised concerns about potential disruptions to Japan's semiconductor industry, as several major manufacturers have facilities in the affected region. Sony and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, operate plants in the area. Sony said it was assessing the impact of the earthquake.
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no reports of abnormalities at nuclear facilities in the affected region. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later said Japan's regulator had confirmed there was no damage or safety issue at the Sendai nuclear power plant and that it would continue monitoring the situation.
Japan is among the world's most earthquake-prone nations due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where multiple tectonic plates meet. The country experiences frequent earthquakes and accounts for roughly 20 per cent of the world's earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.0 or higher.
The latest quake revived memories of the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes in 2016, which killed 275 people and injured 2,739, making them among Japan's deadliest recent natural disasters. Authorities have warned residents to remain alert as strong aftershocks are expected in the coming days.
Several people were injured, buildings collapsed and many people were trapped inside a shopping mall after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto region on Tuesday, knocking out power to around 40,000 homes, disrupting transport and prompting large-scale evacuations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said several injuries, collapsed buildings and fires had been reported following the quake.
"We are still assessing the extent of injuries and property damage, but I have been informed that there have already been several injuries. Power outages and fires are happening in some areas, and roads and bridges have been damaged and buildings collapsed," she said.
The strongest impact was reported in Kumamoto, where emergency services said "many people" were trapped inside the Aeon Mall after part of the building collapsed. According to local media reports, an explosion also occurred at the shopping centre following the earthquake.
In the town of Kashima, the fire department said the second floor of a shopping complex collapsed, leaving many people trapped inside.
In a major development, Kumamoto Police said there were "quite a few" presumed dead following the explosion at the Aeon Mall, broadcaster TBS reported. Rescue operations were continuing.
Emergency earthquake warnings were issued for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures on Japan's southern Kyushu island.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to 1 metre and urged residents in coastal areas to remain alert. However, it was lifted later.
Kyushu Electric Power said approximately 40,000 households were left without electricity following the quake. Railway operator JR Kyushu suspended train services, including its high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) operations, as a precaution, news agency Reuters reported.
The quake also raised concerns about potential disruptions to Japan's semiconductor industry, as several major manufacturers have facilities in the affected region. Sony and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, operate plants in the area. Sony said it was assessing the impact of the earthquake.
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no reports of abnormalities at nuclear facilities in the affected region. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later said Japan's regulator had confirmed there was no damage or safety issue at the Sendai nuclear power plant and that it would continue monitoring the situation.
Japan is among the world's most earthquake-prone nations due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where multiple tectonic plates meet. The country experiences frequent earthquakes and accounts for roughly 20 per cent of the world's earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.0 or higher.
The latest quake revived memories of the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes in 2016, which killed 275 people and injured 2,739, making them among Japan's deadliest recent natural disasters. Authorities have warned residents to remain alert as strong aftershocks are expected in the coming days.
Several people were injured, buildings collapsed and many people were trapped inside a shopping mall after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto region on Tuesday, knocking out power to around 40,000 homes, disrupting transport and prompting large-scale evacuations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said several injuries, collapsed buildings and fires had been reported following the quake.
"We are still assessing the extent of injuries and property damage, but I have been informed that there have already been several injuries. Power outages and fires are happening in some areas, and roads and bridges have been damaged and buildings collapsed," she said.
The strongest impact was reported in Kumamoto, where emergency services said "many people" were trapped inside the Aeon Mall after part of the building collapsed. According to local media reports, an explosion also occurred at the shopping centre following the earthquake.
In the town of Kashima, the fire department said the second floor of a shopping complex collapsed, leaving many people trapped inside.
In a major development, Kumamoto Police said there were "quite a few" presumed dead following the explosion at the Aeon Mall, broadcaster TBS reported. Rescue operations were continuing.
Emergency earthquake warnings were issued for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures on Japan's southern Kyushu island.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to 1 metre and urged residents in coastal areas to remain alert. However, it was lifted later.
Kyushu Electric Power said approximately 40,000 households were left without electricity following the quake. Railway operator JR Kyushu suspended train services, including its high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) operations, as a precaution, news agency Reuters reported.
The quake also raised concerns about potential disruptions to Japan's semiconductor industry, as several major manufacturers have facilities in the affected region. Sony and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, operate plants in the area. Sony said it was assessing the impact of the earthquake.
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no reports of abnormalities at nuclear facilities in the affected region. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later said Japan's regulator had confirmed there was no damage or safety issue at the Sendai nuclear power plant and that it would continue monitoring the situation.
Japan is among the world's most earthquake-prone nations due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where multiple tectonic plates meet. The country experiences frequent earthquakes and accounts for roughly 20 per cent of the world's earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.0 or higher.
The latest quake revived memories of the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes in 2016, which killed 275 people and injured 2,739, making them among Japan's deadliest recent natural disasters. Authorities have warned residents to remain alert as strong aftershocks are expected in the coming days.
