A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, damaging buildings, disrupting transportation, and prompting a large-scale emergency response, while an apparent explosion at a shopping mall near the epicenter left multiple people trapped and raised fears of fatalities. Authorities also briefly issued a tsunami advisory before lifting it after confirming that no significant tsunami had developed.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture at approximately 4:27 p.m. local time. The agency initially warned of possible tsunami waves along parts of Kyushu’s coastline but later canceled the advisory after sea level observations showed no dangerous tsunami activity. The United States Geological Survey later revised the earthquake’s magnitude to 6.8, although Japanese authorities continued to report it as magnitude 7.1.
The strongest shaking caused widespread structural damage across Kumamoto Prefecture, with reports of collapsed buildings, cracked roads, fires, power outages, and transportation disruptions. High-speed Shinkansen rail services and flights in parts of southern Japan were temporarily suspended while engineers conducted safety inspections. Hospitals treated dozens of injured residents as emergency crews responded to multiple incidents.
One of the most serious incidents occurred at an Aeon shopping mall, where authorities reported an apparent explosion following the earthquake that caused part of the building to collapse. Rescue teams searched through the debris after multiple shoppers were reported trapped inside. Japanese media and Reuters reported that fatalities were feared, although officials had not confirmed a final death toll as rescue operations continued.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government immediately established an emergency task force to coordinate rescue efforts, assess damage, and support local authorities. More than 300,000 residents in affected areas were advised to evacuate as officials warned of strong aftershocks and the possibility of landslides, particularly in mountainous communities. Approximately 3,600 members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces were mobilized to assist in disaster response.
Major manufacturers with facilities in Kumamoto, including semiconductor producer TSMC and electronics companies Sony and Fujifilm, temporarily evacuated employees and suspended operations as a precaution. Authorities also confirmed that nearby nuclear power facilities were operating safely and reported no abnormalities following the earthquake.
The earthquake revived painful memories of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which killed hundreds of people and severely damaged historic landmarks, including Kumamoto Castle. Officials urged residents to remain vigilant as aftershocks were expected in the coming days and warned against entering damaged structures until safety inspections are completed.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
