People trapped after blast at Japan mall following quake
Part of Aeon Mall Kumamoto collapsed after a reported blast following a magnitude-7.1 earthquake, leaving people injured and trapped.
People were injured and an unspecified number were believed trapped after a reported blast caused part of Aeon Mall Kumamoto to collapse in southwestern Japan on Tuesday evening.
The incident occurred at the shopping centre in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck the region earlier on July 28, according to reports by Xinhua and Japanese broadcaster NHK. Japan’s Meteorological Agency confirmed that the earthquake struck the Kumamoto region at a depth of about 10 kilometres.
NHK, citing Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency and information from the local fire service, reported that part of the shopping centre’s second floor had collapsed.
An unspecified number of people were believed to be trapped beneath the debris, while firefighters were assessing the situation and conducting rescue operations. Injured people had been taken to hospital, but authorities had not officially disclosed their number or the severity of their conditions.
Emergency calls report blast and white smoke
Police and firefighters received several emergency calls at about 6pm local time from people who reported hearing a loud explosion-like sound and seeing white smoke rising from the shopping centre.
Aerial images taken from an NHK helicopter at about 6.20pm showed extensive damage to the building.
Parts of the exterior walls had broken away, exposing the steel framework, while a section of the roof had collapsed, leaving a large opening.
The cause of the reported blast remained under investigation by police and other relevant authorities.
Magnitude-7.1 earthquake strikes Kumamoto
The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded the earthquake at about 4.27pm local time in the Kumamoto region. It had a magnitude of 7.1 and occurred at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres.
Kashima was initially estimated to have experienced shaking of at least lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, although the precise local intensity had yet to be confirmed.
The earthquake caused injuries and widespread disruption across Kumamoto Prefecture, including power cuts affecting about 48,000 households. Aftershocks continued following the main tremor, while a tsunami warning issued earlier was lifted at about 6.10pm.
