Witnesses describe earth 'ripping itself apart' as quake hit Japan
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, resulting in 13 confirmed deaths and widespread infrastructure damage. Emergency services are currently conducting rescue operations amidst reports of secondary explosions at a local mall.
Why it matters
This event highlights the ongoing vulnerability of even highly earthquake-resilient regions to natural disasters and the critical nature of emergency response times.
An explosion ripped through a popular mall in Japan, about an hour after it had been evacuated due to an earthquake.
The earthquake caused widespread damage and 13 people are confirmed dead.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says emergency services are in a "race against time" to rescue earthquake victims.
Link copied Share Share article The Japanese mall where a deadly explosion struck after Tuesday's earthquake had only just reopened last month, after undergoing repairs to damage caused in a devastating earthquake a decade ago.
Live blog: Get the latest updates on the Japan earthquake
Thirteen people have now been confirmed dead after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake hit Japan's southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
"Even now, there are people waiting to be rescued, and this is a race against time," she told reporters at her office in Tokyo.
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