Sanae Takaichi confirms rescue efforts continue in Kumamoto after magnitude 6.8 earthquake and mall explosion.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that rescue operations are currently a race against time to recover those trapped in Kumamoto's Aeon mall. The shopping center was struck by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on Tuesday, followed by a significant explosion approximately one hour later. While thousands of shoppers were evacuated quickly, several employees remained inside when the building partially collapsed, resulting in three confirmed deaths and three missing workers. Authorities are investigating a possible gas leak as the primary cause of the explosion. Approximately 170 soldiers have been deployed to assist with the search-and-rescue operations. Meanwhile, the earthquake caused widespread damage to houses and power lines across the prefecture, leaving over 30,000 households without electricity. Approximately 9,000 displaced residents are currently staying in evacuation centers, where officials are working to manage sweltering heat and potential heatstroke among the senior citizens. Rescuers are also searching the Nippon Paper factory in Yatsuhiro city, where at least five people were allegedly killed by the collapse of the building.