Kumamoto earthquake death toll in Japan rises to 13

Japanese authorities have confirmed 13 fatalities following a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the casualty figures a day after the tremor hit the Kumamoto Prefecture on the main southern island of Kyushu.

However, the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing a government official, that the number of deaths could potentially be in the dozens. Rescue operations are actively underway in the disaster-stricken region, with emergency crews working to find survivors trapped beneath the debris. The urgency of the situation is heightened by the ongoing efforts to locate missing persons.

The earthquake, which occurred Tuesday afternoon local time, caused significant damage to numerous buildings and roads in the affected area. Local media reported dozens of injuries, and the disaster also led to disruptions in essential services, including electricity and water supplies. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had issued a brief tsunami alert following the quake.

This region, Kumamoto Prefecture, was previously struck by a devastating magnitude 7.3 earthquake ten years ago. That earlier quake resulted in dozens of deaths and forced tens of thousands of people to temporarily relocate to emergency shelters.

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The number of deaths could potentially be in the dozens.