TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that the government has confirmed 13 people died after a powerful earthquake struck the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto the previous day.
Takaichi told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office that, as of 8:30 am local time, the death toll from the earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 stood at 13, including deaths still under investigation to determine whether they were related to the 7.1-magnitude tremor.
Takaichi said Tuesday's earthquake had caused extensive damage, including casualties, collapsed buildings, fires and damaged roads.
"There are still people waiting to be rescued, and we are racing against time," she said.
Takaichi also announced that the second meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, which she heads, would be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday to further assess the situation and accelerate response and recovery efforts.
The earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan at 4:27 pm on Tuesday, wreaking havoc as authorities continued search and rescue operations amid reports of deaths, missing people, collapsed buildings, power outages and traffic disruptions.
In Kashima Town, an explosion occurred at major shopping complex AEON Mall Kumamoto. Many people are feared trapped, with about 20 to 30 employees unaccounted for after the building's second floor collapsed, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
A senior government official told NHK late Tuesday that authorities received reports that there had been a gas leak. After shutting off the main gas supply, police, firefighters and the Self-Defense Forces are carrying out rescue operations.
At least several people have been confirmed dead following the explosion, Asahi TV reported, citing police sources.
In Yatsushiro City, where seismic intensity of upper 6 on Japan's scale was recorded, one person found inside a collapsed house was confirmed dead after being taken to hospital, Kyodo News reported, citing the Kumamoto Prefectural Police.
Also in Yatsushiro City, nine people were reported to be in need of rescue after a smokestack collapsed at a Nippon Paper factory, NHK said.
Meanwhile, the Yatsushiro Police Station said multiple people at the paper plant remained unaccounted for following the chimney collapse. Police and firefighters were continuing efforts to verify their whereabouts and carry out rescue operations.
A hospital in Kumamoto City said that over 50 people have been admitted with injuries, while at least one of them is reportedly unconscious, NHK said.
Power outages have affected about 48,000 households in the southwestern prefecture, while over 10,500 households were without water, Kyodo News reported.
No abnormalities were reported at the Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture or at the Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co.
ALSO READ: Tsunami observed after 7.5-magnitude quake strikes off northeastern Japan
Tsunami advisories were issued for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas after the quake but were later lifted, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
According to JR Kyushu, train operations were suspended on all lines in its service area, including bullet train and local lines.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said a bridge on the Minami-Kyushu Expressway was damaged and shifted, making it impassable.
The quake registered the maximum 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in the hardest-hit areas. According to the JMA, this is the first time seismic intensity 7 has been recorded in Japan since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January 2024. It is also the first time Kumamoto Prefecture has recorded a seismic intensity of 7 since the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, during which intensity 7 was observed twice.
