Japan Earthquake Kills at Least 13 as Rescue Operations Continue in Kumamoto

A powerful earthquake struck Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, killing at least 13 people, injuring hundreds and causing widespread damage across Kumamoto Prefecture, where rescue teams continued searching damaged shopping centres, factories and residential buildings for people who remained missing. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.1 and said it occurred at approximately 4.27 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres, with the strongest level of shaking recorded in parts of Kumamoto. The US Geological Survey later assessed the event at magnitude 6.8, a difference that reflects the separate measurement systems and calculations used by seismic agencies. The earthquake’s epicentre was located south of Kumamoto City, exposing communities already familiar with major seismic disasters to another destructive emergency a decade after the deadly 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. The most serious incident was reported at the Aeon Mall in Kashima, where an explosion—possibly connected to a damaged gas system—was followed by a partial structural collapse that trapped workers and shoppers. Rescue personnel worked through the night using heavy equipment, search teams and emergency lighting to reach people beneath the damaged sections, while authorities continued investigating what triggered the explosion. Additional deaths and injuries were reported after homes and other structures collapsed near the epicentral region. A chimney at a Nippon Paper Industries facility in Yatsushiro also collapsed, leaving workers missing or trapped, while fires, cracked roads, damaged bridges and fallen walls were reported across the affected area. Kumamoto Castle, one of the region’s most important landmarks and still undergoing repairs following the 2016 disaster, suffered further damage to parts of its historic stone walls. The earthquake initially triggered a tsunami advisory for coastal areas around the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, with authorities warning residents that waves of up to one metre were possible. People living near the coast were instructed to move away from beaches, ports and river mouths until the advisory was lifted after monitoring showed that the immediate tsunami threat had passed. The removal of the advisory did not end the wider emergency, as officials warned that strong aftershocks could continue for approximately a week and that already weakened buildings, unstable slopes and damaged infrastructure could create further dangers. Tens of thousands of households lost electricity, while thousands were also left without gas or reliable communication services. Shinkansen bullet-train operations and several regional rail services were suspended, roads were closed and flights at Kumamoto Airport were disrupted as authorities inspected runways and transport infrastructure. Several major manufacturers operating in Kyushu temporarily halted production while they assessed factories, equipment and worker safety. More than 9,000 residents reportedly moved into evacuation shelters, where officials faced the additional challenge of protecting displaced people from intense summer heat. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said saving lives remained the government’s highest priority and ordered police, firefighters, emergency medical teams and the Self-Defense Forces to cooperate with local authorities in rescue and relief operations. The government also dispatched assessment teams and promised food, drinking water, cooling equipment and other essential supplies for affected communities. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no irregularities at nuclear-power stations in the surrounding region, although inspections and monitoring continued. Authorities urged residents not to return to visibly damaged buildings, to secure furniture and emergency supplies and to follow official instructions rather than unverified social-media reports. The earthquake once again demonstrated the particular danger of shallow tremors occurring close to populated areas, where even a lower magnitude than some offshore earthquakes can produce extremely violent surface shaking. As rescue operations continued on July 29, the casualty figures and scale of the damage remained provisional, with officials warning that the toll could rise as emergency teams reached areas that had been difficult to access during the first night.