Race Against the Clock After the Quake in Japan: Trapped in Mall and Paper Mill, Damage to Castle and Temples

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu Island in Japan, leaving 13 dead and about 10,000 evacuated. Rescue efforts focus on the Aeon mall and a paper mill, with damage to Kumamoto Castle and temples. PM Takaiichi: 'A race against time.'

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu Island in southern Japan yesterday, killing at least 13 people and displacing about 10,000. Rescue efforts are focused this morning on the Aeon mall near Kumamoto City, where an explosion occurred an hour later—likely due to a gas leak—causing the second floor to collapse. Three bodies were recovered from the mall, with four still missing. At the Nippon Paper Industries plant, a chimney collapsed, leaving seven missing. Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi stated that over 4,000 rescue personnel are operating in the area, calling it a race against time. Damage was also reported at Kumamoto Castle, temples, and a 17th-century tea house. Major companies like Sony, Honda, and Toyota have suspended operations in the region. Authorities warn of aftershocks and landslides for a week, as well as heatstroke due to power outages affecting 36,000 homes and temperatures of 34°C.

Race Against the Clock After the Quake in Japan: Trapped in Mall and Paper Mill, Damage to Castle and Temples