Japan Earthquake Kills 13, Rescuers Search for Survivors in Wreckage

At least 13 people have died after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southwestern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, causing extensive damage and sparking fires. Rescuers are desperately searching for survivors feared trapped in the wreckage of a shopping mall and a factory.

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Thirteen people have died.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the fatalities, stating that "extensive damage has been confirmed, including casualties, collapsed buildings, fires and damage to roads." The dead on Kyushu island included two women in the mall and three others elsewhere, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Seven people were severely injured.

The shopping mall in Kashima town was reportedly gutted by a gas explosion, leading to collapsed ceilings and walls. While eight people were rescued from the mall, five of whom were injured, initial reports of 20 to 30 people trapped inside have been revised downwards. Police stated early Wednesday that the exact number of trapped individuals is unknown, and access to the facility remains unsafe.

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Extensive damage has been confirmed, including casualties, collapsed buildings, fires and damage to roads.

At the Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, nine people are unaccounted for following damage that included a partially collapsed smokestack. Across Kumamoto, which was hit by deadly quakes in 2016, 36,880 households and facilities were without power on Wednesday morning.

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The explosion occurred after the customers and staff had evacuated.

The tremor, striking at a depth of 10 kilometers, also damaged bridges and capsized a freight train. Residents described the terrifying experience, with one telling AFP the office swayed violently and everyone panicked. Footage verified by AFP showed heavy vehicles overturned.

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The exact number is not known. It is certain that staff members are trapped, but it is unclear whether any members of the public are among them.