Japan earthquake: More than 100 aftershocks hit after deadly quake that killed 13 - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reports that south-western Japan’s Kyushu region has experienced more than 100 aftershocks after a powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people. Officials urged residents to remain on guard, with the Japan Meteorological Agency warning via NHK that strong aftershocks could continue, especially over the next two to three days, and might reach Japan’s top seismic intensity level of 7.

The quake hit at 16:27 local time, with the JMA measuring it at magnitude 7.1 and the US Geological Survey later placing it at 6.8. Its shallow epicentre was reported about 20km south of Kumamoto city. Rescue teams are searching damaged sites in extreme heat, including a paper factory in Yatsushiro City and the Aeon Mall in Kashima, where part of the second floor collapsed and an explosion occurred after the quake.

BBC, citing officials and NHK, reported that thousands of people are in evacuation centres, power has been disrupted, roads and bridges have cracked, fires broke out, and train services were suspended. Aeon Mall president Akio Yoshida said three people were killed in the mall incident, while others were injured or unaccounted for. At the factory, NHK reported two people had no signs of life and nine were missing.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the rescue effort as a race against time and said more than 4,600 personnel had been deployed. Authorities also warned survivors and responders to protect themselves from heatstroke as temperatures reached about 35C, while Defence Minister Shinjirō Koizumi said air-conditioning units would be sent to the worst-hit areas.