People trapped inside Japan shopping centre after earthquake
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck Kyushu, Japan, causing injuries and trapping people inside a shopping mall in Kumamoto. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for over 150,000 residents as emergency teams assess damage from the shallow quake.
Why it matters
Major seismic events in Japan have significant humanitarian and economic impacts, requiring immediate international attention and disaster response.
Published 28 July 2026, 11:29 BST Updated Just now Several people have been trapped inside shopping centre after strong earthquake hits south Japan, officials say.
Some reports say there was an explosion at the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto, following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake which injured several people.
The quake hit inland on Kyushu island at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT), with more than 150,000 people being told to move to evacuation shelters. There was a brief tsunami warning that was lifted within the hour.
Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, experiencing about 1,500 quakes a year.
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