Kumamoto: At least 12 dead, 6 without vital signs following M7.1 quake | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News - NHKニュース

A day has passed since a massive earthquake rocked southwestern Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture. The tremor has caused extensive damage, including deaths and building collapses. Efforts are ongoing to rescue several people who remain unaccounted for.

The magnitude 7.1 tremor struck at 4:27 p.m. It registered 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale — the highest level. The last quake of that intensity was the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day.

Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has announced that 13 people are dead so far. The figure includes a number of deaths which are thought to be linked to the quakes.

As of 4 p.m., Kumamoto prefectural officials said 12 people have died, six are in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest and 62 others have been injured. In addition, four people are unaccounted for.

Rescue operations continue at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping center in Kashima Town. The complex was badly damaged by the quake and a subsequent explosion that caused the second floor to collapse.

Takaichi says three people have been confirmed dead, but several others are still trapped inside.

Local police say the explosion happened after about 200 customers, employees and others had already evacuated the facility.

Retail giant Aeon issued a comment on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since the explosion.

The company said it has been checking on the safety of about 2,700 workers, but the whereabouts of four people remains unknown.

It said it will continue to make every effort to find the four while following the lead of the government and fire department.

Kumamoto Prefecture officials have announced that five of the 11 people trapped in a damaged paper factory in Yatsushiro City are dead. Two others were rescued, but have sustained injuries.

The status of the four missing people remains unknown.

The extent of the damage in Kumamoto Prefecture is gradually becoming evident.

Vietnam's foreign ministry says a technical trainee from the country was killed in the disaster.

It cited information from the Consulate General in neighboring Fukuoka Prefecture.

Vietnam's state-run media say the victim was a trainee who was accepted by an organization in Kumamoto under the technical intern training program in January.

He was reportedly trapped under a falling crane at the factory where he worked.

Reports say seven other Vietnamese were working at the plant, and they have all been confirmed safe.

A Japan Meteorological Agency official is urging people to be alert for more strong earthquakes. "For the next week or so, especially the next two to three days, we would like people to watch out for potential earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of 7."

Kumamoto Prefecture was previously struck by a major earthquake 10 years ago.

The magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurred at around 9:30 p.m. on April 14, 2016. It registered an intensity of 7 on the Japanese seismic scale in Mashiki Town.

Around 28 hours later, at around 1:30 a.m. on April 16, what's been called the "main earthquake," with a magnitude of 7.3, hit Mashiki Town and Nishihara Village.

Subsequently, the government's Earthquake Research Committee pegged the possibility of a magnitude 7 earthquake occurring within the following 30 years in the southern section of the Hinagu fault zone — which was, at the time, not ruptured — at the highest possible rank.

Regarding the connection with the latest quake and that of 2016, a JMA official said it is certain that Tuesday's epicenter was near that same fault zone, but is not at this stage able to confirm if it actually became active.

Kansai University Professor Okumura Yoshihiro says people should be on alert for disaster-related deaths, especially because Japan is experiencing extremely high summer temperatures.

Okumura says it's important to check on people in evacuation centers, and others who may be harder to reach at home or in their cars.

He says people should not overexert themselves during power outages, and seek air-conditioned spaces including evacuation centers, public facilities, or homes of relatives and friends in other areas.

He says people sleeping in their cars should not stay in one position for long periods. He also says they should stay hydrated and park somewhere safe.