Japan earthquake injures 50 and traps ‘many people’ inside shopping mall
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto prefecture, causing widespread damage, power outages, and at least 50 injuries. Emergency services are responding to reports of people trapped in a collapsed shopping mall as aftershocks continue to threaten the region.
Why it matters
Natural disasters in seismically active regions like Japan pose significant risks to infrastructure and public safety, necessitating rapid government and emergency response.
Aerial footage shows collapsed buildings after 7.1 magnitude Japan earthquake – video Asia Pacific Japan earthquake injures 50 and traps ‘many people’ inside shopping mall Deaths expected as Kumamoto shaken by 6.8-magnitude quake, knocking out power and damaging buildings
Prefer the Guardian on Google A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has shaken south Japan , leaving at least 50 people injured, with some trapped and presumed dead inside a partly collapsed shopping mall.
The earthquake hit the Kumamoto prefecture on the southern Kyushu island late on Tuesday afternoon, knocking out power to thousands of homes and damaging roads, bridges and buildings.
Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters authorities were still assessing the extent of the damage in the area, which was devastated by another deadly quake a decade ago.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in