Yame (Japan): The death toll from a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday has risen to 13. Many people are still feared trapped under the rubble, as rescue operations continued Wednesday morning.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that many people are still waiting to be rescued and time is running out. He directed relief agencies to reach as many people as possible as quickly as possible and expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. He also urged those affected to take special care of their health in the hot weather.
The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Kumamoto region of the southern main island of Kyushu. The Prime Minister said that the Japan Self-Defense Force is also working with rescue teams in the hardest-hit areas. Water, food, and other essential relief supplies are being delivered to the affected areas.
The second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kashima town collapsed, trapping several people inside, according to the local fire department. Emergency officials said a chimney at Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s Yatsushiro plant collapsed, burying several people under debris.
The quake-hit area is located about 900 kilometers southwest of the capital, Tokyo. However, there was no major damage to major public facilities or vital infrastructure, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority clarified that all three nuclear power plants located nearby are safe and no technical faults have been reported in them.
According to local media Kyodo News, about 40 injured people were being treated at a hospital in Yatsushiro, while about 50 others were sent to a hospital in Kumamoto city.
Several major manufacturing companies in Kyushu halted production on Tuesday as a precautionary measure following the quake. However, with no major damage confirmed, the companies plan to resume operations on Wednesday.
The runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport is currently closed, with no official information on when it will reopen. Meanwhile, a train derailed and tilted to one side at Yatsushiro Station.
The quake also affected the famous tourist destination Kumamoto Castle, which suffered extensive damage in the devastating 2016 earthquake and is still undergoing repairs.
Hiroki Shimoda, an official at the Mifune Municipal Office, said the shaking reminded him of the 2016 earthquake. He said he saw tiles falling from the roofs of several nearby houses.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that aftershocks are likely for the next two to three days. Residents in affected areas are urged to remain vigilant and follow instructions from authorities.