A mall that had just reopened after being destroyed a decade ago is now, once again, a scene of rescue crews and rubble.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed Wednesday that at least 13 people have died following the magnitude-7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday afternoon, with rescue teams still racing to reach people believed trapped. “There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time,” Takaichi said, offering condolences to victims’ families.
The Aeon Mall Disaster
The most intense search is unfolding at the Aeon Mall in Kashima town, where the earthquake partially collapsed the second floor around 4:30 PM. About an hour later, a suspected gas explosion tore through the complex, blowing out walls and exposing steel framing. NHK confirmed two women in their 20s died inside; as of Wednesday, several mall employees remained unaccounted for out of roughly 2,700 who worked there. The mall had only reopened last month after a full rebuild following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.
A Factory Chimney Comes Down
In nearby Yatsushiro, an industrial chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper factory, trapping workers under rubble; several remain missing. Major manufacturers including Tokyo Electron and Honda have suspended local operations as a precaution.
Displacement, Blackouts, and a Heat Risk
Authorities have advised over 260,000 residents across Kumamoto and Nagasaki to evacuate, with thousands already sheltering in repurposed public facilities. Tens of thousands of households lost power, and municipal water systems in parts of central Kyushu have failed — a serious problem with temperatures climbing toward 34°C, raising heatstroke risk inside crowded, un-air-conditioned shelters.
Transit and Nuclear Status
The Kyushu Expressway has split open in places, Kumamoto Airport remains closed, and Shinkansen service is suspended indefinitely. One bright spot: Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority reports no abnormalities at the nearby Sendai Nuclear Power Plant.
What’s Next
With the quake’s shallow depth, the JMA has warned of strong aftershocks continuing for up to a week. Some 3,600 military personnel have joined firefighters and canine teams in the search.
