Japan earthquake toll rises to 13 as rescue efforts continue

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced Wednesday that the death toll from a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake in southwestern Japan has risen to 13. Search and rescue operations continue as several people remain missing or trapped under debris.

"There are still people waiting for rescue, and the race against time continues. We will deploy all available forces and resources to save as many people as possible," Takaichi stated at a press conference. The partially collapsed Aeon Mall in Kashima city is among the hardest-hit locations. Rescuers pulled eight people from its rubble on Wednesday and are searching for more survivors. Authorities suspect a gas leak explosion caused the building's damage, killing at least two women in their 20s. Firefighters, police, and the military are on site.

Seven people are also missing after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory, while four others sustained serious injuries. Hospitals in the region treated dozens of patients. The earthquake disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of homes and damaged road infrastructure. Authorities ordered approximately 260,000 residents to move to evacuation centers. Some hospitals in the area reported significant operational problems.

The earthquake's epicenter was about 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto, the largest city on the island of Kyushu. Meteorologists warned of potential strong aftershocks throughout the coming week and cautioned about an increased risk of landslides. Japan, located on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire," experiences about one-fifth of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater.

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There are still people waiting for rescue, and the race against time continues. We will deploy all available forces and resources to save as many people as possible.