Tokyo — A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday afternoon, triggering power outages, road damage, a mall explosion, and train derailments. Authorities have confirmed several deaths and dozens of injuries. What Happened The quake hit near Uki City, just south of Kumamoto City, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Strong shaking was felt across Kumamoto and neighboring prefectures including Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, and Miyazaki. A tsunami warning was issued initially but was later lifted. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities were detected at three nearby nuclear power plants. Casualties and Damage One hospital reported more than 50 injuries, NHK said. Additional people were hurt when tremors derailed a high-speed train. The worst incident occurred at an Aeon Mall in Kumamoto, where an explosion followed the quake. Police say several people are presumed dead and others remain trapped. Witness Kazuya Tsurunaga told TBS he saw a “huge cloud of smoke” billow from the mall, about 300m from his pub. “The area around us was like volcanic ash was falling,” he said. An Aeon spokesperson said customers and staff were evacuated after the first tremor. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Infrastructure Impact Power: Kyushu Electric Power said about 40,000 homes lost electricity. Transport: Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains in Kyushu were suspended. Aso Kumamoto Airport’s runway was closed with “no prospect of resuming operations.” Buildings: Roads, bridges, and some buildings collapsed. Portions of stone walls at Kumamoto Castle, already under repair, also fell. Government Response Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to stay alert for aftershocks. “We have been informed of injuries. Power outages, fires, and building collapses have occurred. I ask everyone to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to a safe location,” she said in a post on X. About 300,000 people have been told to go to evacuation centers. The Prime Minister said 3,600 soldiers would be deployed for disaster recovery as aftershocks continued. Economic Impact Major companies with plants in the region include Sony and TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker. Nikkei reported that Sony and Fujifilm evacuated staff. There was no immediate word on damage to facilities. Context Japan sits on the “Ring of Fire” and accounts for about 20% of the world’s magnitude 6+ earthquakes. In 2016, two major quakes in Kumamoto killed 275 people and injured 2,739. Post navigation Justin Greaves Makes History With Five Wicket-Maidens in a Row for West Indies
