Japan earthquake deaths rise to 13 as rescuers race to find people trapped in mall
An earthquake of 6.8 magnitude struck Kyushu island in south-west Japan, resulting in 13 deaths and numerous people trapped in a collapsed shopping mall and factory. Rescuers are in a 'race against time' amidst continuing aftershocks, as residents describe the event as the biggest quake they've experienced in decades.
Why it matters
This event highlights the immediate human cost and widespread disruption caused by natural disasters, emphasizing the critical need for rapid rescue efforts and resilient infrastructure in earthquake-prone regions. The personal accounts underscore the psychological impact on affected communities.
Thirteen people have died in an earthquake that struck south-west Japan, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says, adding that rescuers are in a "race against time"
Rescue efforts are underway at a shopping mall in Kumamoto, where many people are trapped - one witness reported the second floor collapsing.
Earlier, a Japanese official told the BBC that multiple people are unaccounted for at the centre, and at a factory after a chimney collapsed.
The earthquake - estimated at 6.8 magnitude by the US Geological Survey - hit inland on Kyushu island at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT) on Tuesday.
The solid ground just suddenly turned into a mass that was moving, one eyewitness tells the BBC.
Dramatic footage from inside a shop 3.5km (two miles) east of the shopping centre shows children crying and products all over the floor.
'Biggest quake I have felt in 75 years' - resident tells BBC
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