A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, July 28, causing widespread destruction across Kyushu. At AEON Mall Kumamoto, a devastating explosion following the quake partially collapsed the building, leaving multiple people dead, dozens injured, and others still unaccounted for.
According to the Associated Press, the earthquake struck at approximately 4:27 p.m. local time, prompting a brief tsunami advisory that was lifted within hours. Authorities said the strongest shaking reached the maximum Level 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in parts of Kumamoto Prefecture. Rescue operations continued into Wednesday as emergency crews searched damaged buildings amid repeated aftershocks and sweltering summer heat.
Mall explosion compounds devastation
The deadliest single incident occurred at AEON Mall Kumamoto in the town of Kashima, where part of the second floor collapsed before a powerful explosion ripped through the building roughly 30 to 40 minutes after the initial quake.
Officials believe a gas leak may have caused the blast, though investigators said the exact cause remains under investigation, Reuters reported. Thousands of shoppers had already evacuated following the earthquake, but a number of employees were inside when the explosion occurred.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged that the government would devote every available resource to the rescue effort.
For the best of our weekly content！
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Check your email to complete sign up
“Saving lives is our top priority,” Takaichi said according to the Associated Press. “The government will work as one to carry out rescue operations and provide support to affected communities.”
Helicopter footage broadcast by Japanese media showed the shopping centre’s exterior walls torn away, exposing twisted steel beams, while sections of the roof had collapsed. Emergency responders established triage areas outside the mall as firefighters, police officers and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces searched for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
Rescue efforts continue as infrastructure remains disrupted
The earthquake caused extensive damage throughout Kumamoto Prefecture, collapsing homes and commercial buildings, damaging roads and bridges, and knocking out electricity and water services to tens of thousands of households.
Reuters reported that bullet train services were suspended, flights were disrupted, and several major manufacturers temporarily halted operations while inspecting their facilities for damage.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency urged residents to remain vigilant because powerful aftershocks could continue for days.
“We ask people in areas where the shaking was strong to stay alert for earthquakes of similar intensity for about a week,” the agency said. It also warned that heavy rain could increase the risk of landslides in already weakened terrain.
Emergency shelters were opened across the region as thousands of residents spent the night away from their homes.
Investigators examine cause of deadly blast
While the earthquake caused widespread structural damage, investigators are focusing particular attention on the explosion at the shopping mall, which appears to have significantly worsened the destruction.
Officials said the leading theory is that liquefied petroleum gas accumulated inside the building after the earthquake before igniting, though authorities cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing. Rescue teams were forced to proceed cautiously because of concerns about additional structural failures and lingering gas hazards, Reuters reported.
Original article
Comments