Overview
- A very shallow magnitude-7.1 quake struck Kumamoto on Tuesday, producing extreme shaking that caused widespread collapses, major road and rail damage, and damage to Kumamoto Castle.
- The second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kashima partly collapsed after an explosion that investigators are examining for a possible gas leak, leaving people trapped and hampering rescue work.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the official death toll rose to 13 and dozens were injured while some people remain unaccounted for as searches continue.
- About 3,600 Self-Defense Forces personnel and numerous emergency teams have been deployed for search, rescue and relief while tens of thousands of homes lost power and transport was suspended for inspections.
- Key local factories and chip-related plants evacuated staff or paused operations, raising short-term risks to regional production and making infrastructure checks a priority for recovery.