Japan Earthquake: Death Toll Rises to 13, Search for Survivors Continues

The death toll from the earthquake in Japan has risen to 13. Rescue teams are searching for survivors in Kumamoto Prefecture, where the quake struck with a magnitude of 7.1. Tens of thousands are without power, and hundreds of thousands have been urged to prepare for aftershocks. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declared a race against time.

The death toll from yesterday's earthquake in Japan has risen to 13, according to a Reuters report early Wednesday. Rescue teams continue searching for survivors under the rubble in Kumamoto Prefecture, where the quake struck with a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale. Not all missing persons have been found; tens of thousands of Japanese are without electricity, and hundreds of thousands have been asked to remain vigilant for aftershocks. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said it is a race against time and that Japan will mobilize all resources to save people. Roads have been damaged, bridges collapsed, and damage has been caused to historical sites such as a local castle dating back to 1467. A major disaster site is a large shopping mall that collapsed, and eyewitnesses reported an explosion at the mall after the quake, the cause of which is not yet known. The mall had only reopened last month after being renovated following a previous earthquake. Authorities have ordered about 300,000 people to evacuate, and about 3,600 soldiers have been sent to the area. In 2016, a deadly magnitude 7 earthquake struck the same prefecture, killing 277 people.