A strong earthquake struck the Japanese island of Kyushu on July 28, severely affecting Kumamoto Prefecture. The tremors occurred at 16:27 local time. Following the quake, authorities organized the evacuation of over 150,000 residents to safe points. A tsunami warning was issued immediately after the earthquake, but it was canceled approximately an hour later, BBC reports .
According to Japanese media, there are fatalities as a result of the natural disaster. A particularly dire situation developed at the Aeon Mall, where the second floor collapsed after the earthquake. Some people were trapped under the rubble. Fuji TV reported confirmed deaths, and police, according to TBS, believe the number of fatalities could be significant.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the true extent of the destruction and human casualties is still being clarified. According to her, there are already reports of injured people, numerous power outages, fires, and damage to roads, bridges, and buildings. To mitigate the consequences of the disaster, at the request of the prefectural leadership, about 3,600 Self-Defense Forces personnel were dispatched to the affected area. They will work around the clock with local services to rescue people and assess the extent of the damage.
According to the state broadcaster NHK, one hospital has already admitted over 50 injured people. The Nikkei newspaper reports that passengers on a high-speed train, which was in motion during the earthquake, also sustained injuries.
The disaster caused serious damage to transport infrastructure. Large cracks appeared on motorways, one freight train derailed, and another train overturned at Yatsushiro station, according to Kyodo agency. Aerial photographs also show the collapse of one of the bridges.
For safety reasons, high-speed Shinkansen trains and local railway routes have been halted in Kyushu. The runway at Aso-Kumamoto Airport is closed, and flights are being canceled.
Major industrial companies have also taken emergency measures. Microchip manufacturer TSMC evacuated employees from its factory in the region. Similarly, Sony and Fujifilm temporarily withdrew personnel from their enterprises.
At the Aeon Mall, an explosion occurred after the first tremors. According to firefighters, several people were trapped inside the building. Representatives of Aeon noted that visitors and employees were successfully evacuated immediately after the earthquake began, and the cause of the explosion is currently being investigated.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that the Sendai nuclear power plant, located approximately 100 kilometers from the epicenter, sustained no damage and continues to operate normally.
Japan's Meteorological Agency warned of a high probability of strong aftershocks, as the earthquake's focus was at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers. Footage from the scene shows damaged roads, bridges, and several buildings engulfed in flames.
Japan is among the most seismically active countries in the world, with about 1,500 earthquakes registered there annually. The last major tragedy in Kumamoto Prefecture occurred in 2016 when a series of powerful tremors claimed the lives of 278 people.
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