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Rescue teams race against time
Japan Earthquake Rescue Efforts intensified across Kumamoto on Wednesday after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan. The disaster killed at least 18 people, including one foreign national, and injured at least 62 others. Meanwhile, rescue crews searched collapsed buildings, damaged factories, and a heavily destroyed shopping mall for survivors. Officials warned that the death toll could still rise as emergency operations continued.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the rescue mission a race against time. She pledged full government support and ordered emergency supplies for the hardest-hit communities.
Shopping mall suffers catastrophic damage
The Aeon Mall in Kashima City suffered some of the worst destruction. Thousands of shoppers filled the mall when the earthquake struck. Store staff quickly evacuated about 3,000 customers to a nearby parking area. However, a gas explosion erupted shortly afterward in another section of the building where employees still worked.
The blast caused additional structural damage and trapped several people beneath the collapsed second floor. Aeon President Akio Yoshida confirmed four deaths at the mall and said rescuers continued searching for three missing people. Company executives expressed condolences and pledged full cooperation with investigators. Witnesses described scenes of panic as ceilings collapsed and debris scattered across the shopping center.
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Residents recall terrifying moments
Many survivors described the earthquake as the strongest they had ever experienced. Nineteen-year-old Fumika Ono lost her balance while shopping with her sister as violent shaking swept through the mall. Children screamed while merchandise crashed from shelves. Fortunately, both sisters escaped safely.
Elsewhere, Yuki Kiyozumi, deputy chief priest at a 16th-century Buddhist temple, watched centuries of history crumble within seconds. The powerful tremor toppled recently restored temple gates and damaged valuable ornaments. She said the destruction left her uncertain whether the historic structures could ever return to their former condition.
Factory collapse and widespread disruption
Emergency crews also responded to a deadly industrial accident in nearby Yatsushino. A collapsed chimney at a Nippon Paper Industries factory killed five workers. Rescue teams pulled seven people from the wreckage while searching for four others believed trapped.
The Vietnamese government confirmed the death of one technical intern after a crane collapsed at another factory. Seven of his coworkers escaped safely. Authorities also treated the injured wife of another worker after a collapsing wall struck her.
Across Kumamoto, the earthquake disrupted essential services. Nearly 34,900 homes remained without electricity, while approximately 15,000 households lost running water. More than 8,800 residents sought refuge in over 400 emergency shelters equipped with additional cooling systems.
Massive emergency response continues
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces joined firefighters, police officers, and international rescue teams to expand search operations. Firefighters from Taiwan also assisted local crews as they searched damaged neighborhoods and commercial districts.
Aerial footage revealed flattened homes, collapsed bridges, and buildings that had slid into nearby rivers. Transportation also suffered major disruptions. Authorities suspended bullet train services, while several airlines canceled flights despite the reopening of Aso Kumamoto Airport.
Japan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations because of its location along major tectonic plate boundaries. Kumamoto previously endured a devastating earthquake in 2016 that claimed at least 50 lives. Consequently, officials continue strengthening disaster preparedness while focusing on saving as many lives as possible during the current emergency.
