At least 13 dead in Japan earthquake; rescuers search for survivors under rubble

Rescue teams are in a race against time to find survivors trapped under the rubble of a partially collapsed shopping center after a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto region. At least 13 people have died, and authorities are mobilizing all available resources for the rescue operations.

"Even at this moment, there are people waiting to be rescued, and this is a race against time," stated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. "We will mobilize all available resources on site to save as many people as possible."

The earthquake caused massive power outages and destroyed road infrastructure across the region. In a critical rescue operation, eight people were pulled from the debris of an Aeon shopping center early Wednesday. Tragically, two women in their 20s died in an explosion that occurred about an hour after the main tremor, with authorities investigating a possible gas leak as the cause.

The full extent of the disaster remains unclear. Reports indicate that between 20 and 30 employees of the shopping center were missing. Additionally, seven people are unaccounted for after a chimney collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries factory, and four others were seriously injured. Across Kumamoto prefecture, approximately 260,000 people have been advised to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

Local hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of injured. One hospital in Uki lost power and is operating under makeshift conditions, described by an administrative chief as resembling a field hospital. Another hospital suspended admissions after receiving 86 earthquake victims, three of whom are in serious condition. Passengers on high-speed trains during the quake also sustained injuries.

Tens of thousands of homes remain without electricity, and authorities are warning of heatstroke risks as temperatures are expected to reach around 34 degrees Celsius. The earthquake's epicenter was about 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto city, and officials caution about the high risk of strong aftershocks and landslides in the coming days. Economic activity has also been disrupted, with major companies like Tokyo Electron and Honda temporarily suspending operations. Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSMC preemptively evacuated its employees before partially resuming production.

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Chiar și în acest moment există oameni care așteaptă să fie salvați, iar aceasta este o cursă contra cronometru. Vom mobiliza toate resursele disponibile la fața locului pentru a salva cât mai multe persoane posibil.