Several people are trapped inside a shopping centre after a strong earthquake hit south‑west Japan, officials say.
The magnitude‑7.1 quake struck Kyushu at 16:27 local time, prompting the evacuation of more than 150,000 residents and a brief tsunami warning that was lifted within an hour.
Emergency services confirmed that the second floor of the Aeon Mall in the town of Kashima collapsed, leaving many people trapped inside. The fire department noted the collapse in a statement citing broken windows and debris in the car‑park.
The meteorological agency warned of strong aftershocks due to the shallow epicentre 10 km (six miles) beneath the surface. Footage aired by NHK shows cracked roads, bridges and several buildings on fire.
'We are still assessing the extent of injuries and property damage, but I have been informed that there have already been several injuries,' Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday.
About 10 injured were in an elderly care home and at least 50 people are being treated in the hospital, NHK reported. Train services have been suspended and electricity has been cut off for thousands of homes.
Japan, one of the world’s most earthquake‑prone countries with around 1,500 quakes a year, is now prioritising climate‑resilient construction, upgraded building codes and community‑based early‑warning systems to safeguard public safety in future seismic events.
