At least 18 dead after powerful earthquake on Japan’s Kyushu island

Kumamoto – 29 July 2026: At least 18 people have died following the powerful earthquake in the southern Japanese Kumamoto Prefecture. Authorities and emergency services continued searching collapsed buildings and the rubble of a shopping center for possible survivors on Wednesday. The quake shook large parts of Kyushu island on Tuesday, causing considerable damage to homes, transport routes and public facilities.

The Japan Meteorological Agency put the magnitude of the main earthquake at 7.1. The highest level, 7, was recorded on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in the town of Hikawa and the city of Uki. Unlike magnitude, this scale measures the strength of shaking at a specific location. A tsunami warning was issued for parts of the coast immediately after the quake, but was later lifted. The government continued to urge particular caution because of possible aftershocks.

A major focus of rescue efforts is an Aeon shopping center in Kashima, south of Kumamoto. According to authorities, part of the building collapsed there. The operator said that around 3,000 customers had previously been moved to a parking lot. An explosion then occurred in another area of the complex while employees were still there. Its cause is under investigation.

According to the prefecture, at least 62 people were injured, six of them seriously. The death toll could rise further as emergency crews search damaged homes and commercial buildings. Soldiers from the Japan Self-Defense Forces are supporting firefighters, police and medical teams. High temperatures are hampering recovery operations and are also placing a burden on people who have had to leave their homes.

The earthquake also damaged an industrial facility, several homes and parts of the infrastructure. Media reported that a train derailed at Yatsushiro Station. Sections of the walls of Kumamoto Castle were also damaged. The historic complex had already sustained severe damage during the series of earthquakes in April 2016 and has since been undergoing a lengthy restoration process.

Japan lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet. Powerful earthquakes are therefore among the country’s recurring natural hazards. Building codes, regular drills and closely monitored warning systems are intended to limit the consequences; however, when buildings collapse, the search for people trapped under rubble remains time-critical.

The government dispatched a reconnaissance team from the Cabinet Office to the disaster area and ordered immediate assistance coordinated with local authorities. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that rescue operations and medical care were the priority. Authorities and emergency services continue to assess damaged buildings, casualty figures and possible reports of missing people.