Japan earthquake: 7.1-magnitude quake kills at least 2 in Kumamoto after mall explosion, roads crack and buildings collapse

A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, killing at least two people after an explosion ripped through a shopping mall.
Powerful 7.1 quake shakes Japan's Kumamoto (Image via CNBC)

A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, 29th July, leaving at least two people dead and several others injured. The quake caused widespread destruction, including an explosion at a shopping mall, building collapses, power outages, damaged roads, and fires in different parts of the region.

According to the Kumamoto prefectural government, rescue teams worked through the night at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping centre, where a blast occurred shortly after the earthquake. By early Wednesday, 30th July, rescuers had pulled eight people from the damaged building.

Officials confirmed that two women lost their lives in the incident, while another person was in cardiopulmonary arrest. The remaining five people suffered injuries, but authorities said their condition was not considered life-threatening.

Rescue teams continue search operations

Emergency responders, including firefighters, police personnel and members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, continued search and rescue operations overnight. Teams focused on parts of the shopping mall where people were believed to be trapped after emergency calls for help.

Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said officials were still trying to understand the full scale of the disaster in the region, which was also hit by a major earthquake about ten years ago.

“We have already been informed that people have been injured. Power outages and fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings,” Takaichi said.

Authorities asked around 300,000 residents to move to evacuation centres as aftershocks continued to shake parts of Kyushu, Japan‘s southwestern island.

Mall explosion under investigation

The explosion badly damaged one side of the Aeon shopping mall, which has around 200 stores. Television footage showed part of the building torn open, exposing steel beams while debris was scattered across the parking area.

A spokesperson for mall operator Aeon said all customers and staff had been evacuated immediately after the earthquake. The exact reason behind the explosion has not yet been confirmed, although broadcaster NTV reported that investigators suspect it may have been caused by a gas leak.

Kazuya Tsurunaga, who was cleaning up broken dishes inside a nearby pub located around 300 metres from the mall, described the terrifying moment. “It was a huge impact,” he said. “A large cloud of smoke billowed up, and because the wind happened to be blowing and the wind direction was towards the shop, the area around us was in a state like volcanic ash was falling.”

Buildings collapse, roads crack, transport hit    

The earthquake also caused major damage elsewhere in Kumamoto. A chimney collapsed at Nippon Paper Industries’ Yatsushiro Mill, leaving several people unaccounted for, according to NHK.

Two hospitals in the affected area were each treating more than 50 patients, some of whom were seriously injured. Several passengers travelling on high-speed trains were also hurt during the quake, railway operators said.

Authorities responded to several incidents involving partially collapsed buildings and fires. TV Asahi reported that one person died after a building collapsed in a town near the earthquake’s epicentre.

The strong tremors also damaged roads, with large cracks appearing on major highways and disrupting traffic. Rail services were suspended, while flights in the affected region were temporarily grounded as officials continued rescue operations and assessed the full extent of the damage.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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