Japan earthquake: mall collapse and blast leave 18 dead in Kumamoto

Kumamoto,UPDATED: Jul 29, 2026 15:18 IST

Rescue teams and soldiers searched a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed homes in southwestern Japan on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake killed at least 18 people. Officials said it was still unclear how many people might be missing, and fears remained that the toll could rise.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the southern main island of Kyushu a day earlier, leaving at least 62 people injured, six of them seriously, according to the prefectural government. The sweltering weather added to concerns for survivors as rescuers worked through the heat.

Some of the worst damage was reported at the Aeon Mall shopping centre in Kashima city, where thousands of people were present when the quake struck. The company said about 3,000 customers were moved to a parking lot before a gas explosion took place in another part of the mall, where some people were still working. The mall's second floor collapsed, trapping people. Witnesses said the explosion shook the area as much as the earthquake did.

Aeon said three people were still missing and four deaths had been confirmed at the mall site. "We take it seriously that an explosion happened and precious lives were lost," Aeon President Akio Yoshida said at a news conference in Kumamoto, where he bowed deeply along with two other executives. Television footage showed part of the ceiling had caved in, with metal parts and other debris scattered around as helmeted and masked rescue workers searched the area.

In nearby Yatsushino, a chimney collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries factory killed five people, while seven others were pulled out of the debris, according to the Kumamoto prefectural government disaster team. It said four more people were believed to be trapped there. Aerial police footage also showed homes in residential areas completely flattened, including some that had fallen into a nearby river.

Officials said nearly 34,900 homes were still without electricity and around 15,000 had no running water. More than 8,800 people had left their homes and were staying in over 400 shelters, where power sources were being added so evacuation centres could have air conditioning. Japan's Self-Defence Forces joined rescue workers in search operations, with hundreds of professionals involved, including firefighters from Taiwan.

"There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it's a race against time," Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. "We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can." She said the central government was preparing to send food and other necessities to badly affected areas. She also offered condolences to the victims and sympathy to their families, while urging those affected to take care in the hot weather.

Bullet train services remained suspended. Although operations at Aso Kumamoto airport resumed on Wednesday, some airlines cancelled flights as a precaution. The latest earthquake has left people dead and injured, damaged homes and infrastructure, and triggered a large rescue operation in Kumamoto, which was also hit by a deadly quake in 2016.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends