On July 28th, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. Prime Minister Sanae Takai confirmed on the morning of the 29th that the death toll has risen to 13 people. In response, Kumamoto Prefecture has set up 465 evacuation centers, accommodating 9,872 individuals.
As of 9:30 am on the same day, 8 individuals were rescued from the collapsed “Aeon Mall,” with 2 fatalities and 1 individual showing no signs of life. The two confirmed deceased were women in their twenties.
Four individuals were rescued from the damaged Nippon Paper Yatsushiro Factory, where a chimney collapsed during the earthquake. Among them, 2 showed no signs of life, 2 were severely injured, and 7 remain missing.
In addition, one person died in Koso Town, and another person was confirmed dead after being rescued from a collapsed house in Yatsushiro City.
According to Kyushu Electric Power Company, as of the morning of the 29th, approximately 37,000 households in the prefecture are experiencing power outages.
Immediately after the earthquake, the “Aeon Mall” reported an explosion. The preliminary assessment attributed the explosion to a gas leak inside the shopping center. Prior to the explosion, workers discovered a gas buildup within the building. After closing the gas main valve, rescuers entered the scene to evacuate personnel.
At the time of the explosion, approximately 200 people were inside the Aeon Mall. Some of the staff returned to the mall after evacuating customers, leading to the explosion. The blast caused a partial collapse on the second floor and resulted in 20 to 30 individuals becoming unaccounted for.
According to Asahi Shimbun, a taxi driver near the Aeon Mall recalled hearing a loud “bam” akin to a bomb dropping, causing a shockwave that blew out the mall’s exterior walls, enveloping the taxi’s interior in darkness and dust.
The driver exited the vehicle to inspect the area and found debris covering the ground, leaving no visible space to step. The exposed framework of the building extended over a distance of about 50 meters.
Prime Minister Takai emphasized that the government has initiated a “Push-type support” operation, actively delivering essential items like food, water, and toilet paper to evacuation centers.
Furthermore, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on the 29th the deployment of 4,600 Self-Defense Force personnel for rescue operations. At the Kumamoto Aeon Amu Plaza, 170 SDF members, along with firefighters and police, are engaged in search and rescue efforts.
Despite the seismic intensity 7 earthquake, seismic activity in the region remained significant on the 29th. From the evening of the 28th to 9 am on the 29th, 169 aftershocks were recorded.
The Meteorological Agency urged the public to remain cautious, as strong tremors could still occur depending on the location. Citizens are advised to prioritize their safety.
Additionally, Kumamoto Prefecture is experiencing temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Agency reminds individuals performing post-disaster recovery work outdoors to take precautions against heatstroke.