- A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Japan 's southwestern Kumamoto prefecture, leading to at least 18 deaths, 62 injuries, and over 170 aftershocks, which have displaced nearly 10,000 residents to evacuation centres.
- An explosion occurred at the Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto about an hour after the earthquake, resulting in three confirmed deaths, three people still missing, and eight rescued, despite the mall having recently reopened after extensive seismic reinforcement following a 2016 earthquake.
- Investigators are probing a potential gas leak as the cause of the mall explosion, with rescuers detecting gas inside the building, while separately, five workers were killed and four remain trapped after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushino.
- The earthquake has caused widespread disruption, leaving over 35,000 households without electricity and approximately 84,000 without running water, with some hospitals reporting being overwhelmed and unable to function due to power outages.
- Rescue operations are continuing amidst challenging conditions and unpredictable aftershocks, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi offering condolences and assuring that federal aid, including food and necessities, is being delivered to thousands in evacuation centres, as residents recount terrifying experiences reminiscent of the 2016 disaster.
IN FULL
