Rescue teams continued their search for survivors on Wednesday following a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday afternoon. The tremor centered near Kumamoto on the southern island of Kyushu caused significant damage and has resulted in at least 18 confirmed deaths and over 60 injuries, six of which were serious, according to local authorities. The casualty count may rise as rescue operations proceed.

One of the hardest-hit sites was the Aeon Mall in Kashima, a bustling shopping complex where approximately 3,000 customers were evacuated immediately after the quake. Roughly 50 minutes later, a gas explosion severely damaged the building’s second floor, which had already been compromised by the initial shaking. The blast threw steel beams and debris across a nearby parking lot, exacerbating the destruction. Eight people were rescued from the mall’s rubble in the early hours after the explosion, but three of those were confirmed dead. Three employees remain missing amid ongoing search efforts. Aeon President Akio Yoshida acknowledged the tragedy at a news conference, expressing the company’s concern over the loss of life and the ongoing investigation into the explosion’s cause.

Witnesses described the atmosphere of panic inside and around the mall during both the earthquake and the subsequent explosion. Takateru Sonoda, a local business owner, likened the blast to a bomb going off, with sirens blaring and roads gridlocked from the rush to evacuate. Japanese authorities believe the explosion was likely caused by a gas leak, but a thorough investigation is underway. The mall uses liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplied from an outdoor storage tank, which appeared undamaged post-blast. Japanese officials noted the presence of safety systems designed to shut off gas supply during seismic events, but the precise failure remains unclear.

Elsewhere in the region, a collapsed chimney at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro killed five workers, with four more still unaccounted for and several others rescued from the debris. Additionally, a Vietnamese technical intern at a local factory died when a crane fell on him, marking the first known foreign fatality from the quake. Several other Vietnamese workers and family members sustained injuries in related incidents.

The quake also caused widespread utility disruptions, leaving nearly 35,000 homes without electricity and approximately 15,000 without running water. More than 8,800 residents sought shelter across over 400 designated centers, many of which are being equipped with power sources to provide air conditioning amid unseasonably hot conditions. Japanese Self-Defense Forces, firefighters from Taiwan, and hundreds of emergency workers have been mobilized to support rescue and relief efforts.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the urgency of the situation, describing rescue efforts as a “race against time” and assuring the public that the government is committed to providing necessary aid and supplies. While high-speed rail services remained suspended, operations resumed at Aso Kumamoto Airport to facilitate relief logistics.

The 7.1 magnitude tremor echoing a similar deadly earthquake a decade ago in Kumamoto serves as a grim reminder of Japan’s vulnerability to seismic disasters. Damage to cultural sites, such as the collapse of historic temple gates in the Nuyamazu district, adds to the challenges faced in recovery. Authorities continue monitoring aftershocks and coordinating efforts to assess structural safety and support affected communities.