Death toll reaches 13 following powerful earthquake in southern Japan
At least 13 people have died after a major earthquake struck Japan's Kyushu island, leaving thousands displaced and causing widespread structural damage.
Rescue operations in southern Japan are intensifying following a powerful earthquake on Kyushu island, where at least 13 people have been killed. A subsequent magnitude 3 aftershock hit Kumamoto Prefecture as search teams continue working through rubble at a collapsed shopping center in Kashima, where an explosion was reported. Emergency crews are also searching for workers missing after a chimney collapsed at a local paper factory.
The initial quake displaced more than 150,000 residents and left over 40,000 households without electricity. Structural damage remains widespread across the region, including destroyed bridges, damaged roads, and collapsed historical walls. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that authorities are still assessing the full extent of the devastation, while officials warn the death toll could rise further.
Sources: BBC News, NOS, ORF, TV 2 Nyheter.
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