Japan Sees 7.1 Earthquake in Kyushu: Mall Trapped, Castle Walls Shaken
After dusk on Tuesday, a 7.1 magnitude quake rattled Kyushu, Japan, leaving the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto in ruins and trapping many people inside.
When and Where
The quake struck at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT) on Kumamoto Prefecture, the third largest and second most populous island in Japan. Police warned about 300,000 residents to evacuate to shelters following the seismic event.
What Happened at the Shopping Centre
Fire and disaster management officials confirmed the second floor of a commercial facility in the mall collapsed, trapping shoppers. Contact was lost with 20 to 30 employees, according to NHK. Witnesses reported seeing an explosion and smoke, while some shoppers were transported to hospital.
Secondary Affected Sites
At the Nippon Paper Industries Yatsushiro Plant, a chimney collapsed, leaving people missing. Aerial photographs from Reuters show the collapsed structure in Yatsushiro City.
Damage to Cultural Structures and Infrastructure
Historic walls at Kumamoto Castle was damaged, echoing the 2016 quake that toppled parts of the 400‑year‑old fortress. A footbridge in the region also collapsed, though no injuries have been reported yet. Roads are damaged and traffic continues on the damaged bridge’s parallel structure.
Aftershocks, Power Outages and Tsunami Warning
Japan’s Meteorological Agency reported over 60 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 1 to 4. Kyushu Electric’s website notes that more than 40,000 households lack power. A tsunami warning was issued immediately after the quake but lifted within two hours.
