A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan, leading to an explosion and collapse at a large shopping mall that resulted in two fatalities. The incident also caused a chimney to collapse at a paper factory, leaving nine employees unaccounted for.
According to NHK and Kyodo News, the earthquake occurred at 4:27 PM on July 28 near Uki City. The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded shaking at the highest level of 7 on the seismic intensity scale in Uki and Hikawamachi.
About 90 minutes after the quake, at approximately 6 PM, an explosion was heard at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashimacho, causing parts of the roof and exterior walls to collapse.
Rescue teams conducted an overnight search amid fears of further collapses, successfully rescuing eight individuals by around 4 AM. Among them, two women in their 20s were confirmed dead, one was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest, and five others sustained injuries but are not in life-threatening condition.
Immediately following the earthquake, around 200 visitors evacuated the mall, although local media reported that some employees may have re-entered the building.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. A government official suggested that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) facilities may have been damaged, leading to a gas leak. Police and fire authorities are looking into the details of the incident.
At a paper factory in Yatsushiro City, part of a chimney collapsed, resulting in two individuals being rescued in cardiac arrest, while contact has been lost with nine employees.
The Kumamoto Prefectural Police reported 12 cases of residential collapses and four reports of residents unable to exit their homes due to damaged entrances.
The earthquake disrupted water supply to approximately 140,000 households and caused power outages for over 40,000 homes. Some hospitals experienced power interruptions, complicating the treatment of injured individuals.
An emergency safety order has been issued for around 90,000 residents in Kumamoto Prefecture. A total of 466 evacuation centers have been established across 36 municipalities, with over 4,700 residents seeking refuge.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "As of now, there have been no reported casualties among South Koreans," and added that they are continuously checking for any potential impacts through local consulates.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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