At least 13 dead after earthquake in Japan; rescue efforts continue

At least 13 people have died and hundreds more were injured after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday. The powerful tremor left tens of thousands of households without electricity and water, as rescue teams race against time to find survivors.

The earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon, registering the highest level of 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale. "Some people are still waiting for rescue, and we are in a race against time," said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday. Authorities have deployed 3,600 military personnel, 20 aircraft, and hundreds of rescuers to the affected areas.

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Some people are still waiting for rescue, and we are in a race against time.

Rescue operations are focused on a partially collapsed shopping center in Kumamoto and a paper factory in Yatsushiro where a chimney collapsed. Reports indicate people are trapped in the shopping center, with one witness describing the second floor caving in. Two workers at the paper factory were taken to the hospital with cardiac arrest, and nine others remain missing.

Authorities have recorded over 60 aftershocks by Wednesday morning and warned that the risk of further strong earthquakes and landslides could persist for about a week. With temperatures expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius, heatstroke is also a concern. Many residents spent the night in their cars due to fear of aftershocks. Despite power and water outages, some hospitals continued to provide care, though they faced challenges with damaged equipment.

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I have lived here for 75 years, but I have never felt such a strong earthquake. I thought I was going to die.