Survivors of a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's Kumamoto prefecture late Tuesday have described scenes of shock and horror as rescue operations continue. At least 13 people have been killed in the disaster, with dozens more believed to be trapped.
Among those caught in the tremor was Hiroko Ogata, co-owner of Sendan Shokudo diner in Yatsushiro city. She recounted the moment the building lurched violently. "Everything on the kitchen shelves cascaded to the floor; bowls and glasses shattered," Ogata told BBC News. She sought shelter under a table, but it was tossed sharply from side to side. Although the area is known for seismic activity, having experienced a deadly earthquake in 2016 that killed 277 people, Ogata described this tremor as unprecedented. "I thought I would die," she stated, having never experienced such a strong jolt.
Several fatalities were reported at the Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto city, where emergency services are working to free people still trapped. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has warned that the situation is a "race against time" as rescue efforts are underway. The earthquake hit the region, which is situated on an active tectonic fault system, late on Tuesday. While the area has experienced seismic events before, including a major earthquake in 2016, the intensity of this latest tremor has left survivors reeling.
