Kumamoto, Japan. Rescuers searched for survivors on Wednesday after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan, killing at least 13 people, cutting power to thousands of homes and damaging roads across the region.
Shopping mall rescue operation
Eight people were pulled from the rubble of a partially collapsed shopping mall near Kumamoto City, which was damaged by an apparent explosion about an hour after Tuesday’s earthquake. Two women in their 20s were confirmed dead.
NHK reported that between 20 and 30 mall workers were unaccounted for on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said authorities were racing to rescue people still awaiting help.
“Even now, there are people waiting to be rescued, and this is a race against time. We will marshal all available resources on the ground to save and rescue as many people as possible,” Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo.
Explosion investigation
Authorities were investigating a possible gas explosion at the Aeon 8267.T mall, according to media reports.
Japan’s top government spokesperson, Minoru Kihara, said rescuers had reported smelling gas inside the building, although the cause of the incident remained under investigation.
Emergency fire rescue teams, police and about 170 army personnel were concentrating on parts of the building from which calls for help had been received.
Wider recovery effort
More than 4,500 soldiers were deployed across the earthquake zone to support recovery operations.
Seven people were also missing after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries 3836.T factory, while four others were seriously injured, a local government official said. Hospitals were reported to be treating dozens of patients.
Authorities said about 260,000 people across the prefecture had been instructed to go to evacuation centres. Police received 386 emergency calls after the earthquake, including reports of collapsed buildings and requests for rescue.
The epicentre was about 20 kilometres south of Kumamoto City, central Kyushu’s largest city, which has a population of around 700,000. The prefecture was also hit by a deadly earthquake a decade ago.
