Overview
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto on Tuesday, July 28, producing level‑7 shaking on Japan’s intensity scale and causing widespread collapse of homes, public buildings and roads.
- Search-and-rescue teams concentrated on a badly damaged Aeon Mall in Kashima where a reported gas explosion collapsed the second floor and complicated efforts to reach people trapped under rubble.
- Reported death totals vary across sources, with figures published between 13 and 36 as local officials say many people remain missing or were recently found, leaving the final toll unsettled.
- More than 9,000 to 10,000 people are sheltering in evacuation centers that face high temperatures, power and water interruptions, and mounting demand for medical care and cooling equipment.
- The national government has deployed the Self-Defense Forces and emergency services, the Japan Meteorological Agency lifted a short tsunami alert, Sendai nuclear plant was reported undamaged, and officials warned aftershocks and weather risks could hamper recovery.