A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan's Kyushu region, causing a shopping center collapse and dozens of injuries.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the southern main island of Kyushu, Japan, on Tuesday, causing a shopping center to collapse and leaving dozens of people missing or injured. The second floor of the Aeon Mall shopping center in Kashima Town collapsed, trapping approximately 20 to 30 employees. Local police and Kyodo News reported that several people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals in Yatsushiro and Kumamoto cities. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported damage to roads, bridges, buildings, and blackouts, though specific details remain unclear. The Japan Meteorological Agency lifted a tsunami advisory for the western coasts of Kumamoto prefecture and neighboring areas within two hours. While major public infrastructure remained intact, the Japanese Defense Ministry dispatched aircraft to assess the damage. Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains were suspended for safety checks, and the runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was closed. Shinji Kiyomoto of the Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to remain cautious over the next two to three days.