Japan Earthquake Leaves 13 Dead, Rescue Efforts Continue
A severe earthquake struck in Kumamoto Prefecture, on Kyushu Island in Japan, leading to at least 13 deaths and damage to buildings and infrastructure. Rescue teams are continuing their search for people who may have survived. According to the officials, a number of powerful aftershocks can be felt for several days. The incident has become one of the most widely covered news stories from Japan in recent times.
Magnitude 7.1 earthquake shakes Kyushu Island
The earthquake struck Kumamoto at around 4:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. While the Japan Meteorological Agency initially reported the earthquake’s rating at 7.1. The U.S. Geological Survey later modified it to 6.8.
Immediately after the quake, a tsunami warning was issued but it was cancelled afterwards. However, the powerful earthquake caused a wide spread of damage. It led to building collapse, road destruction and numerous fires across the region.
Wide spread damage across Kumamoto
The areas hit hardest suffered serious infrastructure damage. For example, part of the Kyushu Expressway suffered a crack and one section of Kumamoto Castle’s wall also broke down. There was a serious incident at Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto city, which saw a part of the second floor collapsing and a strong explosion and several workers were initially reported as missing.
Officials are investigating the cause of the explosion. Power outages have affected over 36,000 households in some areas, leading healthcare facilities to face difficulties due to lack of electricity.
Death Toll Rises as Rescue Operations Continue
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported a minimum of 13 casualties. Rescue personnel continue to search for survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.
Medical facilities in affected areas have been treating many injured residents, some in serious condition, while about 260,000 people have been instructed to evacuate to safety as rescue operations proceed.
This information continues to be among the most recent news updates, with officials advising people to stay alert.
Aftershock and Landslide Risk Remain High
The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned about possible aftershocks persisting for a week, with the greater probability within two to three days. Heavy rain and unstable soil have made the landslide risk even higher.
People have been warned to take precautions against heat illnesses as temperature is expected to exceed 34 Celsius.
Why Does Japan Have So Many Earthquakes?
Japan is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several major tectonic plates meet. The movement of the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American plates makes Japan one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
Japan’s strict regulations for construction and rigorous disaster preparedness training have helped bring down the number of fatalities, but strong earthquakes like the Kumamoto disaster still pose threats.
As Japan is going through yet another disastrous natural phenomenon, rescue operations, restoration of basic services, and evaluation of damages are taking place.
