A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu on July 28, killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 60 others, while emergency crews continued an intensive search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue operations progressed.

One of the hardest-hit locations was an Aeon Mall shopping center in Kashima, where thousands of shoppers were evacuated moments before a gas explosion devastated part of the complex following the earthquake. The collapse of the mall's second floor resulted in multiple fatalities, with several people initially reported missing.

The earthquake caused widespread structural damage across the region, destroying homes, damaging public infrastructure, and toppling historic landmarks, including gates at a 16th-century Buddhist temple. Industrial facilities were also severely affected. At a paper manufacturing plant in Yatsushiro, a collapsing chimney claimed five lives, while rescue teams continued searching for additional workers believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

Among the victims was a Vietnamese technical intern, marking the first reported foreign fatality. The worker was killed when a crane collapsed at his factory, while several of his colleagues escaped safely. Another Vietnamese national was hospitalized after being injured by a collapsing wall.

The disaster also disrupted essential services throughout Kumamoto Prefecture. Nearly 35,000 households lost electricity, approximately 15,000 homes were left without running water, and more than 8,800 residents sought refuge in over 400 emergency shelters. Transportation networks were significantly affected, with bullet train services suspended and some flights canceled despite the reopening of Kumamoto Airport.

Japan's Self-Defense Forces, local emergency responders, and international rescue personnel joined large-scale search and recovery efforts under extreme summer heat, racing against time to locate survivors. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged full government support for rescue operations and emergency relief, emphasizing the urgent need to provide food, water, and other essential supplies to affected communities.

Situated along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan remains one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. The latest disaster serves as another reminder of the nation's ongoing vulnerability to major seismic events and the critical importance of disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and rapid emergency response.

(AP News, July 29, 2026)