Powerful earthquake hits southern Japan, at least 13 dead

A strong earthquake has devastated parts of southern Japan, claiming at least 13 lives and injuring numerous others. The tremor, initially registered at magnitude 7.1 and later downgraded to 6.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey, struck the Kumamoto prefecture near Nagasaki. The disaster led to the collapse of structures, including the second floor of a shopping center in Kashima and a pipe at a paper factory in Yatsushiro, where most of the fatalities and injuries occurred.

Emergency services are working tirelessly to rescue individuals trapped in the rubble, with tens of thousands of households experiencing power outages. Authorities issued an emergency warning for several prefectures and a tsunami advisory for waves up to one meter, though the tsunami warning was later withdrawn. Around 300,000 people were advised or ordered to evacuate coastal areas.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the formation of a crisis task force to assess the damage and coordinate rescue operations. She acknowledged the immediate concerns of power and water shortages, as well as the risk of heatstroke in the affected regions. The Prime Minister urged residents to remain vigilant for strong aftershocks, which the Japan Meteorological Institute considers highly probable in the coming days. The famous Kumamoto Castle also sustained damage to its stone walls. Major companies, including Toyota, Honda, and Nippon Paper, have temporarily halted operations at their facilities in the region.

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In the affected areas, there are power outages and water shortages, and the situation also raises concerns about heatstroke. The government will work continuously through the night to quickly assess the damage and implement necessary crisis measures, with rescue and life-saving as the top priority.