A powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu on Tuesday, resulting in at least 30 deaths according to multiple reports. The quake caused significant structural damage across the region, including the collapse of an Aeon shopping centre where search and rescue teams continue operations to locate survivors trapped in the debris.
Emergency response efforts are ongoing across multiple affected sites, including a damaged paper mill and numerous collapsed homes throughout the south-west of the country. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi characterized the rescue operation as a “race against time,” emphasizing the urgency of locating survivors.
Rescue efforts face multiple challenges, including ongoing aftershocks and extreme heat conditions in the region, which are hampering the work of soldiers and emergency teams. Search and rescue operations continue at the devastated shopping centre and other affected locations as authorities work to account for missing persons and assess the full extent of the damage.
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