Japan quake kills 5, leaves others missing in Kumamoto
Kumamoto, Japan — A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday, killing at least five people and leaving others missing, emergency services reported Wednesday, July 28. The quake badly damaged a shopping mall and a factory, sparking fires and collapsing structures.
The dead included two women inside the Aeon shopping mall in Kashima and three others elsewhere in the Kumamoto region, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency told AFP. Seven people were severely injured.
The mall was apparently gutted by a gas explosion after customers and staff had evacuated, a government source told Kyodo news agency. The explosion collapsed ceilings and walls. Eight people were rescued from the mall, five of whom had injuries, a local official said.
Initial reports suggested 20 to 30 people were trapped, but NHK cited police saying the number was lower. “The exact number is not known. It is certain that staff members are trapped, but it is unclear whether any members of the public are among them,” police told NHK. No safe route of access has been found into the facility.
At the Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, a smokestack partially collapsed, leaving nine people unaccounted for, the local government said. Across Kumamoto, 36,880 households and facilities had no power on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The tremor struck at 4:27 pm local time, measured at 6.8 magnitude by the US Geological Survey at a depth of 10 kilometers. It sparked fires, collapsed buildings, damaged bridges, and capsized a freight train. Parts of a wall at the centuries-old Kumamoto Castle also collapsed.
Chiharu Hara, a 35-year-old recruitment agent in Kumamoto, told AFP she was “terrified.” “The office swayed violently side to side. I was afraid it would collapse. Everyone panicked,” she said.
The Japanese military mobilized 3,600 personnel for disaster relief and sent 20 aircraft to assess damage, the defense minister said. Many roads were closed, high-speed shinkansen trains suspended, and Kumamoto airport briefly closed.
Japan sits on four major tectonic plates along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the world’s most seismically active countries. The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, experiences hundreds of jolts yearly, accounting for about 18 percent of global earthquakes. Most are mild, but the 2011 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami killed or left missing around 18,500 people and wrecked the Fukushima nuclear plant.
How does this affect Filipinos in Japan?
Many overseas Filipino workers live and work in Japan, including in the Kumamoto region. The Philippine embassy in Tokyo has not yet reported any Filipino casualties. Filipinos are advised to monitor local alerts and contact the embassy for assistance.
What lessons can the Philippines learn from Japan’s earthquake response?
Japan’s swift mobilization of military personnel and aircraft for disaster relief highlights the importance of preparedness. The Philippines, also on the Ring of Fire, can strengthen its early warning systems and evacuation protocols, especially in rural areas where infrastructure is vulnerable.
FAQ: What should you do during an earthquake?
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay indoors if you are inside. Avoid windows and heavy objects. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and gas leaks. Listen to local authorities for updates.
Photo: CDN Digital