A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on July 28, killing at least 13 people and injuring many others. The earthquake prompted the evacuation of more than 260,000 people from the affected region, while damaged infrastructure including ruptured roads and widespread power outages impacted residential areas.
Rescue operations are ongoing to locate survivors trapped in collapsed structures, including a shopping mall that was destroyed by the quake. Workers are searching through tangled wreckage to find any remaining people still missing from the disaster.
The earthquake has been followed by more than 100 aftershocks, with officials warning that some could potentially reach magnitude 7. Authorities are urging residents to remain alert and prepared for continued seismic activity in the region.
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