A 7.1 magnitude earthquake caused part of a shopping mall to collapse in Japan’s Kumamoto region. There is a possibility of many people being trapped. Relief operations are ongoing, while thousands of security personnel are engaged in rescue operations and aftershock warnings remain in place.
Tokyo: A powerful earthquake of 7.1 magnitude struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday, causing widespread devastation. The biggest impact of the earthquake was seen in the Kumamoto region of Kyushu island, where part of a large shopping center collapsed and many people are feared trapped inside. Local fire departments and disaster management agencies have immediately started relief and rescue operations, while the administration is busy assessing the damage in the affected areas.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake occurred at 4:27 pm local time. Its center was at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers underground, due to which the tremors were felt quite intensely. A tsunami alert was issued as a preliminary warning, but it was withdrawn within an hour after reviewing the situation.
Major accident happened in Aeon Mall
After the earthquake, there was chaos in Aeon Mall in Kumamoto. According to eyewitnesses, smoke was seen rising inside the building after strong shaking and shortly thereafter a part of the second floor collapsed. A large number of people were present in the mall at the time of the accident.
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed that several people were trapped inside after the second floor of a commercial complex collapsed. Rescue teams are trying to reach people by removing the debris. However, officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of people trapped or the dead.
Team of thousands engaged in relief work
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that at the request of the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, about 3,600 Self-Defense Force (SDF) soldiers have been deployed in relief and rescue operations in the affected areas.
The Prime Minister said the government’s top priority is to save lives and all agencies are continuously working with the local administration to minimize the damage and ensure the safety of the affected citizens. He also said that rescue teams will continue operations throughout the night so that people trapped under the debris can be safely rescued.
Roads damaged, power supply disrupted
Many roads in Kumamoto and surrounding areas were damaged after the earthquake. There have also been reports of collapse of bridges and foot bridges at some places. Aerial photographs showed one footbridge completely collapsed, while traffic continued on another bridge built parallel to it.
Apart from this, power supply to thousands of houses was disrupted. Communication services were also affected in many areas, causing local administrations to face additional challenges in coordinating relief efforts.
Kumamoto Castle was also damaged
The historic Kumamoto Castle was also affected by the earthquake. Initial photographs showed parts of the fort’s stone walls collapsing. Experts are now making a detailed assessment of the damage caused to this historical heritage.
nuclear plant safe
After the earthquake, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the earthquake did not affect the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant. According to the agency, the plant is safe and operating normally. No radiation problems or safety risks have been reported. The IAEA said it was continuously monitoring the situation and was in contact with Japanese authorities.
People advised to go to safe places
Immediately after the earthquake, the administration advised more than 1.5 lakh people to move to safe places and relief camps. Officials have warned that there is a possibility of strong aftershocks after this earthquake with a shallow center. Disaster management agencies have appealed to citizens to stay away from damaged buildings, follow the instructions of the administration and rely only on official information.
Why do so many earthquakes occur in Japan?
Japan is one of the most earthquake affected countries in the world. This country is located in the ‘Ring of Fire’ region of the Pacific Ocean, where many tectonic plates collide with each other. For this reason, about 1,500 earthquakes are recorded here every year. Although most earthquakes are of low intensity, powerful earthquakes that occur from time to time can cause massive loss of life and damage to infrastructure. Japan has greatly reduced the risk through state-of-the-art earthquake warning systems and strict building standards, yet major earthquakes remain a serious challenge.
constant monitoring of the situation
Relief agencies are taking the help of modern equipment and search teams to rescue people trapped under the debris. The administration is continuously conducting aerial and ground surveys of the affected areas so that the damage can be accurately assessed. Officials have said that as rescue operations progress, official information regarding the number of people affected and losses will be shared. Currently, emergency services are active across the region and safety of citizens is being given top priority.
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