Sanae Takaichi, the Prime Minister of Japan, confirmed that 13 individuals have been located deceased following a significant earthquake that struck parts of southwestern Japan, as rescue teams continued their efforts to find missing persons on Wednesday morning.
A 7.1 magnitude quake hit the Kumamoto region on Kyushu, the southernmost main island of Japan, late Tuesday afternoon.
Takaichi stated, “There are individuals awaiting rescue, and we are racing against time.” She added, “We are committed to locating and saving as many people as possible.”
The Prime Minister expressed her sorrow for the victims and extended her sympathy to their families, while advising those impacted by the earthquake to take care amidst the high temperatures.
Japan’s Self Defense Forces joined the rescue operations at a heavily damaged shopping center and were providing water, food, and essential supplies to the severely affected regions, according to her remarks.
The earthquake caused the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town to collapse, trapping individuals inside, as reported by the fire department in Kumamoto’s prefectural capital.
At the Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s Yatsushiro factory, a chimney fell, resulting in people being trapped under the wreckage, according to the Kumamoto emergency response team.
The impacted region is located approximately 900 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, Japan’s capital.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency indicated that no significant damage occurred to major public facilities or infrastructure, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no irregularities at the three nearby nuclear power stations.
Kyodo News reported that a hospital in Yatsushiro received around 40 injured individuals, while approximately 50 others were transported to a facility in Kumamoto city.
Numerous major companies in Kyushu halted operations on Tuesday, but found no substantial damage and planned to resume activities on Wednesday.
The runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport has been closed, with no immediate updates regarding when it will reopen.
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture resulted in many individuals being trapped after a shopping mall partially collapsed. Andrew Mitchell, a survivor of the earthquake, shares his experiences and emphasizes the importance of earthquake preparedness.
A train derailed and tipped over at Yatsushiro station, and damages were reported to stone walls at Kumamoto Castle, a significant tourist attraction that suffered severe destruction in the 2016 earthquake and is still undergoing repairs, according to Kyodo.
Hiroki Shimoda, an official from Mifune town hall, remarked, “The shaking reminded me of the Kumamoto quake (a decade ago) and was terrifying,” as he witnessed roof tiles from nearby houses crashing to the ground. Kumamoto experienced a devastating quake in 2016 that claimed the lives of at least 50 people.
Shinji Kiyomoto from the Japan Meteorological Agency cautioned residents to remain vigilant over the next two to three days due to the possibility of aftershocks.
