A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu on Saturday, causing widespread damage and trapping people inside a shopping center in Kumamoto. Reports indicate a possible explosion at the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto following the quake.
The earthquake hit inland at 4:27 p.m. local time (07:27 GMT), with the tremors injuring several people and prompting authorities to advise over 150,000 residents to seek shelter in evacuation centers. A brief tsunami warning was issued but subsequently lifted within the hour.
Japan is highly susceptible to seismic activity, with approximately 1,500 earthquakes recorded annually. The country's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it prone to frequent and often powerful tremors.