Shopping Center Collapses on Occupants: Dramatic Footage from Japan Earthquake

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kyushu Island, Japan, reaching the maximum level on the Japanese scale, causing building collapses, fires, and widespread destruction. A whole floor of a shopping center in Kashima town collapsed, leaving many trapped, while tens of thousands of homes lost power and rescue teams are operating in the area.

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, struck southwestern Japan today (Tuesday, July 28, 2026) in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island. The quake reached the maximum level on the Japanese seismic scale, leading to building collapses, flooding, fires, and infrastructure shutdowns. The main event: the second floor of a shopping center in Kashima town collapsed, leaving many people trapped. NHK reported at least 50 injured evacuated to hospitals, and reports of a significant number of fatalities at the shopping center. Additionally, at least 12 houses collapsed, bridges were damaged, a freight train derailed, and numerous fires broke out. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi updated that authorities are assessing the extent of the damage. Kyushu Electric Power Company reported that about 45,000 households lost power. The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that three nuclear reactors in the area continued to operate normally. The Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning that was canceled after about an hour and a half. Japan, located on four tectonic plates, records hundreds of earthquakes annually. The country bears the scars of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, and the Kumamoto area was also severely hit in 2016 by earthquakes that killed 273 people. The current event follows a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in northern Japan on April 20, 2026.