Dozens of people remain missing following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan, causing significant damage, including the collapse of a shopping mall and splitting roads. The earthquake, which hit Japan's southern region, also triggered fires and left dozens injured.
At least three fatalities were confirmed following an explosion at the Aeon mall in Kashima Town, which is believed to have been caused by a gas leak. An unknown number of people were trapped when the second floor of the shopping center collapsed, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Four individuals were rescued with injuries and taken to a hospital, while 10 others were unaccounted for.
A large chimney at a paper factory also collapsed, contributing to injuries and damage to roads, bridges, and buildings. Blackouts and fires were reported across the affected area.
Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos following the tremor. A shopkeeper at the Aeon mall recounted hearing an explosion resembling a bomb blast approximately an hour after fleeing the building due to an earthquake alert. He reported seeing plumes of white smoke emanating from the mall. An employee at the mall stated that she and her colleagues smelled gas before hearing the explosion after evacuating customers.
Footage circulating on social media depicted shoppers seeking cover within the mall as the ground shook. Other videos showed smoke billowing into the sky as fires engulfed structures, with firefighters working to control the blazes. The extent of the damage is still being assessed as search-and-rescue operations continue.
Major infrastructure also suffered significant damage. Sections of the Kyushu Expressway, a vital highway connecting Fukuoka and Kagoshima, sustained severe damage, with parts of the road appearing to have split in two. A collapsed bridge section was seen lying in a river in Yatsushiro City, and multiple freight wagons were derailed at Yatsushiro Station. 
At the Nippon Paper Industries Co.'s Yatsushiro factory, a chimney collapsed and the building sustained damage, trapping 11 people underneath debris. Two individuals were later found without vital signs, and the conditions of the remaining nine were unknown.
In total, around 30 people were injured across the Kagoshima prefecture, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The agency also reported that more than 260,000 people were advised to evacuate, primarily in Kumamoto prefecture but also in the neighboring Nagasaki prefecture. The affected area is located approximately 540 miles southwest of Tokyo.
A tsunami advisory issued for the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas on the western coasts of Kumamoto prefecture and three neighboring prefectures was lifted within two hours.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that reports indicated damage to roads, bridges, and buildings, alongside blackouts and fires, although specific details remained unclear. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed that no major public facilities or infrastructure were damaged. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no abnormalities at three nearby nuclear power plants.
Kumamoto police reportedly received over 100 emergency calls following the earthquake. Hospitals in Yatsushiro and Kumamoto cities admitted approximately 40 and 50 injured individuals, respectively. The earthquake also impacted several major manufacturers in Kyushu.
Operations for Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains in Kyushu were suspended for safety checks. The runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was closed, with no immediate prospect of resuming operations. The Japanese Defense Ministry dispatched military aircraft to the area to assess the situation. A train derailed and fell on its side at Yatsushiro station, and damaged stone walls were reported at Kumamoto Castle, a landmark that was significantly damaged in the 2016 earthquake and is currently under repair.
Residents were urged to remain cautious over the next two to three days due to the possibility of aftershocks. The UN Secretary-General's deputy spokesman conveyed sympathy to those affected and the people of Japan, stating that the UN stands ready to support if needed, with national authorities leading the response.
This event follows a deadly earthquake in Kumamoto in 2016, which resulted in at least 50 fatalities. 
