Japan ends rescue operation at a mall that collapsed after a strong quake
Japanese authorities have concluded search-and-rescue operations at a collapsed shopping mall following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture. The disaster resulted in 34 confirmed deaths across the region.
Why it matters
This event underscores the ongoing vulnerability of infrastructure to seismic activity and the logistical challenges of disaster response in Japan.
By MARI YAMAGUCHI Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Leer en español --> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. --> Share
TOKYO (AP) — Authorities ended a massive dayslong search-and-rescue operation Saturday at a collapsed shopping mall in southwest Japan following a powerful earthquake that killed 34 people earlier this week.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday. The Aeon Mall, in the town of Kashima, was one of the hardest-hit sites, after an explosion that followed the quake caused the walls and a floor to collapse.
The explosion, which the company said it believes was due to a gas leak, occurred after about 3,000 shoppers had been evacuated to a parking lot following the quake, but some employees remained inside. The mall’s second floor collapsed.
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