Thirteen people have died after a powerful earthquake struck south-west Japan, with rescue teams working to reach people trapped beneath debris, BBC News reported.
The earthquake hit Kumamoto prefecture late on Tuesday, damaging buildings and roads, suspending rail services and sending thousands of residents to evacuation shelters.
Local fire officials said three of the deaths were at the Aeon Mall in Kashima, where part of the second floor gave way. The department said many people were trapped inside. AFP reported that eight people had been rescued from the mall, while NHK said the number still trapped was lower than earlier estimates of 20 to 30.
Footage from the scene showed smoke rising from the shopping centre as people moved into the car park. Parts of the exterior had been torn away, exposing steel beams.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed condolences to those who had died and thanked emergency workers. Speaking on Wednesday morning, she said it was “a race against time”. She also said 3,600 soldiers would be deployed to assist recovery work as tremors continued.
The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded the earthquake at magnitude 7.1, while the US Geological Survey later assessed it at 6.8. The quake had a shallow epicentre, about 10km deep, around 20km south of Kumamoto city.
NHK footage also showed damaged roads and bridges, as well as fires at several buildings. In Yatsushiro City, a bridge partially collapsed after the tremor. Thousands of homes lost power.
Felix Umland, a German photography student staying on the 13th floor of a hotel in Kagoshima, about 175km from the epicentre, told the BBC’s Newshour programme that the building felt as though it had turned “into liquid” during the shaking.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said on X that there had been no damage or safety issues at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, about 100km from the epicentre, and that it remained in operation.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said first responders had been deployed, including Japan’s self-defence force, fire services and coast guard. He urged residents in badly affected areas to follow evacuation information from local authorities and remain calm.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency has reported more than 60 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 1 to 4.
