Live updates: At least 13 people killed in Japan earthquake, prime minister says - CNN

What the report says

CNN reported that a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people, according to CNN affiliate TV Asahi. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said rescue crews were in a race against time, and thousands of military personnel were being sent to support police and fire departments in reaching people who may still be trapped.

A major focus of the response is Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima, where part of the shopping center collapsed after what officials described as a likely gas-related explosion following the quake. The mall’s operator said at least three workers died there; CNN reported five deaths connected to the mall overall, with three people still missing. Company officials said the quake hit while thousands were on site, customers were evacuated to a parking lot, and the blast occurred later. Authorities had not yet confirmed the exact cause.

CNN also cited Japan’s public broadcaster NHK as reporting five deaths at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, where damage included a collapsed chimney and several people remained missing. The quake also damaged bridges, temples and a historic castle in a region still marked by the destructive 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.

The disaster is significant because Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, sitting near major tectonic boundaries and the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” CNN noted that Japan has invested heavily in quake detection, emergency systems and stronger building standards, but the latest deaths and infrastructure damage show the continuing risks from powerful shaking and secondary hazards such as fires, explosions and structural collapse.