A powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, registering a maximum 7 on the Japanese shindo intensity scale. The tremor, reaching a magnitude of 7.1, caused widespread destruction, rupturing roads and knocking out power and water to tens of thousands of homes. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported that the disaster forced over 260,000 people to evacuate.
The death toll has risen to 34, with 89 people injured, though the Kumamoto prefectural government indicated the true toll could be higher. Significant damage was reported across the region, including flattened homes and a toppled factory chimney. A powerful explosion occurred at the Aeon shopping mall in Kashima, and collapses were reported at a paper mill. Currently, six people are in critical condition and five others are seriously injured.
Thousands of military personnel and emergency workers are engaged in a race against time to find survivors within the critical 72-hour rescue window. Rescue crews are combing through the rubble of collapsed houses and the badly damaged shopping mall amidst sweltering heat to locate those still missing.
The disaster has significantly impacted local industry, with Toyota and Honda suspending operations at their Kumamoto factories until Friday. Both companies stated that safety is being prioritized due to the changing situation and continuing aftershocks. This event marks the most powerful earthquake to hit the region in 10 years.