On July 28th in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck in the afternoon. As rescue efforts unfolded, the number of missing and injured individuals continued to rise.
According to the Fire Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, the Nippon Seishi Yatsushiro Factory had a chimney collapse. As of 10 PM, local fire authorities reported that “9 people require rescue.” Some individuals have been rescued, but details regarding their injuries are still being confirmed.
Around 6 PM on the 28th, a strong earthquake with a seismic intensity of 6 struck Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture. Footage captured by NHK helicopter showed the chimney of the Nippon Seishi Yatsushiro Factory collapsing from the middle section. Employees from the Kyushu Sales Branch, responsible for Nippon Seishi’s business in the Kyushu region, stated that they have been unable to contact factory workers.
The spokesperson told NHK, “We are making efforts to gather information on casualties, but we feel extremely uneasy due to the lack of communication.”
In addition, the Uki City Police Department in Kumamoto Prefecture reported that in Uki City with a seismic intensity of 7, a residential building collapsed, and a family of 4 residing there is currently unreachable.
Authorities confirmed that one person is trapped inside the collapsed residence, but there was no response to shout-outs. Rescue operations have been initiated by fire and police units.
Furthermore, an explosion occurred at the commercial facility “AEON Mall Kumamoto” in Kajimachi, Kumamoto Prefecture. Part of the second floor of the facility collapsed, trapping 20 to 30 people.
The Uki City Uki General Hospital in Kumamoto Prefecture stated that after 9 PM, they had received 40 injured residents, with 10 individuals categorized as severe based on triage assessment. Due to the hospital’s capacity being overwhelmed, they have temporarily stopped accepting new patients requiring emergency care.
The government has established the “Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters” to address the situation and held a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in the evening. Prime Minister Souen Takai stated that around 3,600 Self-Defense Force members have been deployed to the disaster area, emphasizing the principle of “putting lives first” and fully engaging in search and rescue and disaster response efforts.
Takai stated during the meeting, “There have already been casualties, building collapses, and damaged roads on a large scale. I extend my sincerest condolences to all affected individuals.”
Takai requested close collaboration between ministries, local governments, and the Self-Defense Force to promptly grasp the overall disaster situation, prioritizing the rescue of trapped civilians and disaster response.
This is the second time the Japanese government has established the “Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters” since the Noto Peninsula earthquake in 2024.
The Japan Meteorological Agency held a press conference on the 28th night, noting that there are two fault lines near the epicenter of this earthquake, not ruling out the possibility of another earthquake with a magnitude of up to 7 occurring within the next week.