Rescue operations under way in Japan after shopping center collapses in quake

Emergency services in Japan are continuing search and rescue efforts after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu island, causing severe structural destruction across Kumamoto prefecture.

A major focus of rescue operations is an Aeon Mall in Kashima, where a floor collapsed following a suspected explosion. Local authorities reported that multiple people were trapped under rubble, with broadcaster NHK stating that between 20 and 30 employees remain missing. Police cautioned that a significant number of fatalities are feared at the site.

Across the region, at least 50 individuals have been hospitalized and 12 residential properties collapsed, burying occupants beneath debris. Damage to key infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has complicated emergency access, while approximately 40,000 households remain without electrical power. Authorities maintain evacuation orders for over 150,000 residents as damage assessments continue.

Sources: Die Zeit, ORF, TV 2 Nyheter.