Japan earthquake kills 13, rescuers search rubble for missing

A powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people and leaving dozens injured or missing, as rescuers rushed to find survivors trapped under rubble. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of a race against time to save those still unaccounted for.

Quake details and immediate response

The earthquake hit Tuesday afternoon in Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island at a shallow depth of 6 miles, with its epicenter about 12 miles south of the city of Kumamoto, home to 700,000 people. A tsunami warning was issued for coastal areas but later lifted. Thousands of soldiers have been deployed to assist rescue teams, and authorities urged residents to brace for possible aftershocks of similar intensity in the coming days.

Major damage and casualties

Two women in their 20s died when the Aeon mall near Kumamoto partially collapsed; eight others were pulled alive from the debris, while four remain missing. Officials are investigating whether a gas leak caused an explosion at the site. Seven workers are missing after a chimney collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro. The quake also ruptured roads, derailed a freight train at Yatsushiro station, and damaged historic sites including Kumamoto Castle and Yatsushiro Shrine. About 35,000 households were without power, and high temperatures raised concerns about heat stroke.

Transportation and infrastructure

All bullet train services on Kyushu were suspended, along with some airport operations. Passengers on high-speed trains reported injuries from the violent shaking. The JR Freight Railway Company confirmed a freight train derailment, with aerial footage showing overturned carriages and collapsed shrine pillars. Kyushu Electric Power reported widespread outages still affecting tens of thousands of homes as of Wednesday.

Nuclear safety and broader context

Japan's nuclear authority confirmed that the Sendai nuclear power plant in the region suffered no damage, a fact also relayed to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Given the 2011 Fukushima disaster, any seismic event near nuclear facilities draws intense scrutiny. Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making earthquakes frequent; the 2016 Kumamoto quake, which also damaged Kumamoto Castle, killed dozens.

Looking ahead

Japan's Meteorological Agency warned that earthquakes of up to magnitude 7 could occur in the next week, especially the next two to three days. Rescue operations continue at the mall and paper mill, with officials vowing full mobilization of resources. The nation holds its breath as the search for survivors continues amid the rubble.