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Japan Kumamoto earthquake kills 18, PM says race against time to find survivors
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A powerful earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu on Tuesday, initially measured at magnitude 7.1 before being revised to 6.8. The quake, followed by over 60 aftershocks, caused part of the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture to collapse, leading to an explosion. Search teams rescued eight people from the ruins, but at least 18 deaths have been confirmed, with the toll expected to rise. The earthquake sparked fires, damaged roads, and cut power to thousands of homes. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the situation as a 'race against time' to find those still trapped. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of landslides and further aftershocks over the coming week, noting ongoing seismic activity. The region is still recovering from the 2016 earthquakes that killed 275 people and damaged over 200,000 homes.
Source report
What Happened
Search teams have rescued eight people from the rubble of a shopping center after a powerful earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu on Tuesday. Recovery operations continued overnight at the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture following a partial building collapse and an explosion that occurred after the initial quake.
The earthquake was initially measured at a magnitude of 7.1 before being revised to 6.8. It was followed by more than 60 aftershocks, which together sparked fires, damaged roads, and cut power to thousands of homes. At least 18 people are known to have died, and the death toll is expected to rise.
Who Said What
"Although more than 20 hours have passed since the earthquake, there are those still in need of help," Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said during a press conference. "This is truly a race against time."
Broader Context
The earthquake has "rattled a region still marked by one of the country's deadliest recent disasters," according to CNN. In 2016, a series of massive earthquakes killed 275 people, injured thousands more, and caused widespread devastation, with more than 200,000 homes damaged.
What Next
Emergency workers continue to search for people who are trapped or missing, while engineers assess damaged infrastructure. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of landslides and further aftershocks over the coming week, as the quake is still "triggering seismic activity in the area," reported The Guardian.
Source
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Part of this Story
Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Hits Kyushu, Japan; Dozens Killed, Tsunami Warning Issued