Japan earthquake: Race to find survivors after 7.1 quake hits Kumamoto

Kumamoto,UPDATED: Jul 29, 2026 10:28 IST

A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the Kumamoto area in southwestern Japan has killed at least 13 people, left many missing and triggered a major search for survivors in damaged buildings and collapsed homes. Soldiers and emergency workers continued rescue operations on Wednesday as authorities warned that time was critical.

The earthquake, which hit the southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday, also disrupted transport and utilities. Bullet train services remained suspended, some airport operations were affected, and officials were still assessing the damage a day after the quake.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said rescue efforts were under way in hard-hit areas. "There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it's a race against time," she said. "We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can." She also offered condolences to those who died and sympathy to their relatives, and urged affected residents to take care in the hot weather.

Chief government spokesman Minoru Kihara said about 36,900 homes were still without electricity, 9,500 homes had no gas supply, and communication networks were not working in some areas. More than 9,000 people had left their homes and were staying at more than 500 shelters. He said additional power sources were being arranged so that evacuation centres could have air conditioning, as temperatures in the area were expected to rise above 32 degrees Celsius during an ongoing heat wave.

Japan's Self Defence Forces joined rescue workers at the badly damaged Aeon Mall in the town of Kashima. The mall's second floor collapsed after an explosion believed to have been caused by a gas leak, trapping people inside. Officials did not say how many people might still be trapped.

At the Yatsushiro factory of Nippon Paper Industries Co, a chimney collapsed and buried people under debris, according to the Kumamoto emergency team. As of Wednesday, seven people were feared to be trapped. Officials said two survivors and two bodies had been pulled out from the site.

Takaichi said the government was preparing to send food and other necessities to the affected areas. Transport services were still facing disruption, with the Kyushu Shinkansen remaining suspended on Wednesday. Aso Kumamoto Airport resumed operations after one runway was closed on Tuesday, though officials said some flights could still be cancelled.

Kyodo News reported that stone walls at Kumamoto Castle, a major tourist site, were damaged in the quake. The castle had been badly hit in the 2016 earthquake and is still under repair. "The shaking reminded me of the Kumamoto quake (10 years ago) and I was frightened," said Hiroki Shimoda, an official at Mifune town hall, who said he saw roof tiles from nearby homes crash to the ground. The 2016 Kumamoto earthquake killed at least 50 people.

The quake has left a trail of deaths, damage and disruption across parts of Kumamoto, with rescue teams still searching for survivors in collapsed structures, thousands of residents in shelters, and transport and essential services yet to return fully to normal.

With PTI Inputs

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