At least 13 people have died and more than 100 aftershocks have rattled Japan's southwestern Kyushu region following a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Tuesday, according to officials. Rescue teams are racing against time to locate survivors trapped in collapsed buildings as temperatures soar to 35°C (95°F).

Rescue operations intensify amid extreme heat

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the situation as "truly a race against time" during a Wednesday press briefing. More than 4,600 personnel have been deployed to Kumamoto prefecture, where the quake's epicenter was located 20km south of Kumamoto city at a shallow depth of 10km (6 miles).

Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi announced on X that 300 air conditioning units would be distributed to evacuation centers to prevent heatstroke among survivors and rescuers. Thousands remain without power, and train services have been suspended across the affected region.

Shopping mall explosion leaves three dead, others missing

The Aeon Mall in Kashima suffered catastrophic damage when a portion of its second floor collapsed and an explosion occurred shortly after the quake. Aeon Mall president Akio Yoshida confirmed three fatalities at the site and reported that four people were hospitalized. Three individuals remain unaccounted for as search efforts continue.

  • 2,700 employees worked at the Aeon Mall
  • One survivor was rescued from a bathroom
  • Another victim was found in cardiopulmonary arrest
  • Large sections of the building's exterior were blown off

Officials warn of continued seismic risk

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has urged residents to remain vigilant for strong aftershocks over the next week, particularly in the coming two to three days. "We would like people to watch out for potential earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of 7," a JMA official stated via public broadcaster NHK.

The US Geological Survey initially recorded the quake at magnitude 6.8 before updating its measurement to 7.1. Footage from the region shows cracked roads, collapsed bridges, and fires in multiple buildings. In Yatsushiro City, two people were found with no signs of life at a factory, while nine others remain missing.

Survivors described the terror of the initial quake. Hiroko Ogata, a 75-year-old resident, told the BBC, "I have lived here for 75 years, but I have never experienced such a big quake. I thought I would die." American tourist Chantel Mohar recounted the moment her bus began rocking violently as emergency alerts sounded on passengers' phones.