Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that 13 individuals lost their lives following a strong earthquake that struck parts of southwestern Japan. The search for missing persons continued on Wednesday morning as rescue teams worked tirelessly. The magnitude 7.1 quake hit the Kumamoto region on Kyushu’s southern main island on Tuesday evening.
Takaichi emphasized the urgency of rescuing those still stranded, stating, “We are making every effort to locate and save as many individuals as possible.” She expressed condolences to the victims and solidarity with their families, advising those impacted by the quake to take precautions in the high temperatures.
Japan’s Self Defense Forces collaborated with rescue teams in the search and rescue missions at a severely affected shopping complex, providing essential supplies to the hard-hit areas. The quake caused significant damage, including the collapse of the second floor at Aeon Mall in Kashima Town and a chimney collapse at Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s Yatsushiro plant, trapping individuals under debris.
The affected area, located approximately 900 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, did not experience major damage to public facilities or infrastructure, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Additionally, the nearby nuclear power plants showed no abnormalities, as confirmed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority.
Kyodo News reported that a hospital in Yatsushiro received around 40 injured individuals, with another 50 transported to a hospital in Kumamoto city. While numerous major manufacturers in Kyushu halted operations temporarily, they found no significant damage and planned to resume activities the following day.
The closure of the runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was announced, with no specific timeline for its reopening. Authorities urged caution over potential aftershocks in the coming days, with Shinji Kiyomoto from the Japan Meteorological Agency advising residents to remain vigilant.
A derailment of a train at Yatsushiro station and damage to stone walls at Kumamoto Castle, a prominent tourist spot still undergoing repairs from the 2016 quake, were also reported. Hiroki Shimoda, an official at Mifune town hall, recalled the fear evoked by the recent quake, reminiscent of the 2016 disaster that claimed the lives of at least 50 people.