Japan Earthquake: 18 Dead, Rescuers Intensify Search for Survivors

The death toll from a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Japan has risen to 18, authorities confirmed Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Emergency teams are intensifying their search for people trapped beneath collapsed buildings in Kumamoto prefecture.

The quake, which registered the maximum level 7 on the Japanese scale, struck Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday afternoon. More than 20 hours later, thousands of rescuers continued their efforts to locate survivors amidst widespread destruction, hundreds of injuries, and thousands of evacuations.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi initially reported 13 fatalities. However, the Kumamoto prefectural government later confirmed five additional deaths resulting from the collapse of a chimney at the Yatsushiro plant of Nippon Paper Industries. Local authorities indicated that at least four people might still be buried under the debris at that facility.

Among the deceased were three individuals inside a shopping center operated by the Aeon chain when the earthquake hit. The company's president, Akio Yoshida, stated that three other people remain missing. Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara noted the difficulty in establishing a definitive number of missing persons, as authorities could not yet confirm how many people remained under the rubble at the shopping center.

Prime Minister Takaichi emphasized the urgency of rescue operations, highlighting that over 20 hours had passed since the earthquake, with people still awaiting help. Japan deployed approximately 4,600 Self-Defense Forces soldiers, 2,000 police officers, and about 1,410 firefighters to manage the emergency. The government is continuously assessing response capabilities and urged all operational units to increase personnel and equipment for rescue tasks.

The emergency has also placed significant pressure on the region's healthcare system. The Yatsushiro North Community Medical Center alone treated over 200 injured individuals, according to a hospital spokesperson. The Kumamoto fire department reported transferring nearly a hundred injured people to various hospitals, six of whom sustained severe injuries. Firefighters also managed various fire alerts reported after the earthquake.