Many feared trapped in quake-hit Japan mall

Emergency crews conducted a desperate search early on July 29 for individuals feared trapped inside a shopping mall in Kashima, Japan, following a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the previous afternoon.

The tremor, which hit at 4:27 p.m. on July 28, caused widespread devastation, toppling buildings, igniting fires, and leading to at least one confirmed fatality and over 100 injuries. Private broadcaster TBS reported that the mall's second floor collapsed during the quake, raising fears of significant casualties within the structure.

As night fell, regional officials indicated that approximately 10 people remained unaccounted for at the mall, according to public broadcaster NHK. Earlier reports cited police suggesting that between 20 and 30 employees could not be contacted. While police could not confirm fatalities within the damaged building, four individuals were hospitalized, all conscious.

Further complicating rescue efforts, multiple people were also believed to be missing at a factory in Yatsushiro city, where a chimney collapsed. The earthquake's impact was visible across the southwestern Kumamoto region, with footage showing blazes, damaged infrastructure, and precarious residential buildings.

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The office swayed violently side to side. I was afraid it would collapse. Everyone panicked