A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s Kyushu island on Tuesday afternoon, its epicenter about 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto, a city of roughly 700,000 people. At least three people have died, with dozens more injured or missing.
The quake hit around 4:27 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured it at the highest end of the seismic intensity scale and warned that aftershocks may continue for days.
What Happened on the Ground
In the city of Kashima, the second floor of the Aeon Mall shopping center collapsed. NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster, reported the collapse followed an explosion believed to be caused by a gas leak inside the building. An unknown number of people were trapped.
Aerial footage showed a derailed cargo train, collapsed structures at an industrial plant, and a building on fire. A 400-bed hospital in Kumamoto reached full capacity treating people injured in the quake.
A tsunami advisory was issued minutes after the quake for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, warning of waves up to a meter high. Japanese broadcaster NHK later reported the warning had been lifted.
The Response So Far
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed extensive damage, including casualties, collapsed buildings, damaged roads, and fires. She said her government would work to support the affected region.
Rescue teams are working through the night at the collapsed mall in Kashima. The scale of injuries and the number of people still missing remain unclear as search efforts continue.
The Japan Meteorological Agency’s warning about likely aftershocks reflects a pattern common after shallow, high-magnitude quakes. Residents in Kyushu are being told to stay alert in the days ahead.
Rescue crews are still searching the wreckage in Kashima tonight, and the full scale of the damage across Kyushu won’t be clear until daylight.
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