By Sandra Kenneth
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on the southwestern island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon, leaving at least 13 people dead and causing widespread destruction across the region.
The severe tremor hit at 4:30 p.m. local time (07:30 GMT), centered near the coastal city of Uto—roughly 30 miles southwest of Kumamoto City—according to initial reports, though the U.S. Geological Survey later revised the magnitude estimate to 6.8. A tsunami advisory was issued immediately following the quake but was lifted shortly after.
Rescue crews worked through the night, combing through collapsed buildings and rubble in a desperate search for survivors. Authorities have warned residents to brace for potentially strong aftershocks over the coming days, with public broadcaster NHK reporting a magnitude 4.1 aftershock hitting the region just after midnight on Wednesday.
The main shock caused extensive damage throughout Kumamoto City, a regional hub of 700,000 residents. The quake ignited multiple fires, severely damaged major roadways, and severed power to tens of thousands of homes. Emergency responders also scrambled to rescue shoppers trapped inside a partially collapsed shopping mall in the capital.
Despite the widespread destruction, officials confirmed that no abnormalities were detected at the two-reactor Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in neighboring Kagoshima prefecture to the south.
Search and emergency operations remain ongoing across Kyushu as local authorities assess the full scope of the disaster.
