A 7.1‑magnitude earthquake rattled the Kyushu region of south‑west Japan, touching down inland at 16:27 local time and shattering the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto.
The quake’s force caused the second floor of the mall to collapse, trapping dozens of shoppers inside the building. Firefighters and rescue teams are working to extricate those trapped, while hospital staff treat patients for injuries, most of whom were calm after the tremor.
Local media first linked the quake to an explosion at the mall, but official reports suggest the damage stemmed from the building’s structural failure, as seen when the upper level imploded.
The national meteorological agency warned of strong aftershocks due to the earthquake’s shallow epicentre, about 10 kilometres (six miles) below the surface, and issued a brief tsunami warning that was cancelled within an hour.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasised the ongoing assessment of injuries and damage, noting that at least 50 individuals were receiving treatment across the country, with approximately ten injured in an elderly care home.
Train services across Kyushu are suspended and thousands of homes have lost electricity, underscoring the quake’s extensive disruption.
