Japan quake: Mall collapses in explosion, casualties feared

The aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan, revealed scenes of devastation, most notably at the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town. The massive structure, spread across an area equivalent to 30 football fields, was ripped open, its outer walls torn away to expose the skeletal frame within. Chunks of concrete debris lay scattered up to 50 meters away, hinting at the violent force of the explosion that followed the earthquake.

Authorities suspect a gas leak, triggered by the seismic event, led to the catastrophic explosion. Rescue teams, including police, firefighters, and Self-Defense Forces, were seen entering the damaged mall. Nearby businesses remained shuttered, with signs indicating closures due to earthquake damage, lending an eerie silence to the area.

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The earthquake damage has caused us to close for today.

The destruction extended beyond the shopping center. At the Japan Paper plant in Yatsushiro, a collapsed chimney crushed a work area, trapping and killing several workers. The scale of the disaster was significant, with the Japanese government confirming numerous casualties, building collapses, fires, and road damage. Thousands of residents were evacuated to shelters, receiving essential supplies as tens of thousands faced power and water outages.

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There are still people waiting for rescue in the disaster areas. Please maximize personnel and equipment to focus on saving lives.

Infrastructure also suffered heavily. Sections of highways buckled, and train services were suspended. Even cultural heritage sites, like the Shohinken building, sustained major damage. The temporary shutdown of TSMC's semiconductor plant in Kumamoto raised concerns about potential disruptions to the automotive industry and other sectors reliant on its components.

Experts believe the earthquake originated from the Hinagu fault zone, an active fault that has been linked to previous major seismic events. The region has a history of significant earthquakes, including a devastating one in 2016. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of the possibility of strong aftershocks, urging residents to remain vigilant for the next week, particularly in the initial days following the main quake.

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Kumamoto has a history of consecutive earthquakes. Please be cautious of aftershocks of magnitude 7 for about a week, especially for the first 2-3 days after the earthquake.