Rescuers continued to search for survivors on Wednesday, a day after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan, killing at least 13 people, knocking out power to thousands of homes and rupturing roads.

Eight people were pulled from the rubble of a partially collapsed shopping mall near Kumamoto that was torn apart by an explosion shortly after the initial earthquake. Three of those rescued later died. Akio Yoshida, president of mall operator Aeon, stated that three workers at the shopping center remain unaccounted for among approximately 2,700 staff members. Customers had been evacuated immediately after the first tremor.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the ongoing rescue efforts, stating that the nation would "marshal all available resources on the ground to save and rescue as many people as possible." Authorities are investigating a possible gas explosion at the Aeon mall, with rescuers reporting the smell of gas inside the building, though the exact cause remains under investigation, according to Japan’s top government spokesperson, Minoru Kihara.

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Emergency fire rescue teams, police, and around 170 army personnel are focusing on areas within the building where calls for help were received. More than 4,500 troops have been deployed across the earthquake-affected zone to aid recovery efforts. Separately, five people died and two were injured at a Nippon Paper Industries factory when the quake toppled a chimney, broadcaster NHK reported.

Across Kumamoto Prefecture, which experienced a deadly earthquake a decade prior, approximately 260,000 people were advised to seek shelter in evacuation centers. Police reported receiving 386 emergency calls following the quake, including reports of collapsed structures and individuals requiring rescue.

The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 12 miles south of Kumamoto City. The region has experienced over 100 small aftershocks since the main tremor. In Yatsushiro city, one of the most heavily impacted areas, many homes sustained roof damage, and several buildings collapsed. Roads leading to the coastal town showed signs of buckling and cracking, and numerous businesses remained closed.

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Part of a bridge collapsed into the Kumagawa River, drawing onlookers to the site. Local resident Masahiro Miyamoto described seeing telephone poles and buildings topple while he was driving during the earthquake. He has since been assisting with cleanup efforts.

Authorities have cautioned residents in areas that experienced the strongest tremors to remain vigilant for further strong quakes, expected for about a week, and to be aware of the potential for landslides. The tremor registered the highest level of 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in some areas.

With over 36,000 homes still without power and many without water, officials are warning of the risk of heat-related illnesses amid temperatures reaching 93 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius) on Wednesday.

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Several hospitals reported being overstretched. One hospital in Uki city, near the epicenter, was unable to function due to a power outage caused by the earthquake, described by an administrative department head as becoming "like a field hospital." Another hospital in the same city suspended admissions after accepting 86 injured individuals, including three with serious injuries.

Passengers on high-speed trains at the time of the quake also sustained injuries, and services were immediately suspended. Major companies in the region, including Renesas Electronics, Sony, Tokyo Electron, and Honda, suspended operations at their plants. Toyota Motor announced it would halt work at three factories outside Kumamoto prefecture through Friday due to concerns about its suppliers.

TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, evacuated workers from its local plant as a precaution but began resuming operations late Tuesday.

Japan, situated on the seismically active "Ring of Fire," experiences approximately 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater. A major earthquake in Kumamoto 10 years ago resulted in 275 fatalities and thousands of injuries, causing significant damage to buildings, including Kumamoto Castle. The castle, along with other historic structures like shrines and a 17th-century tea house, sustained damage in the recent quakes.