A powerful earthquake struck southwestern Japan on July 28, causing part of the Aeon Mall in Kashima town to collapse and leaving authorities searching for people who may still be trapped inside.

According to Kyodo News, citing local police, around 20 to 30 employees were reportedly unaccounted for, while others were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The second floor of the shopping center was reported to have collapsed following the powerful tremor.

The earthquake struck roughly 900 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. A tsunami warning issued for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas off the western coast of Kumamoto Prefecture and three neighboring prefectures was lifted about two hours later.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said there had been reports of damage involving roads, bridges, and homes, as well as power outages and fires. However, authorities said the full extent of the damage had not yet been confirmed.

According to the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency, no damage to public buildings or critical infrastructure had been officially reported at that time. The Japan Nuclear Regulatory Authority also said no abnormalities had been detected at three nearby nuclear power plants.

The earthquake left dozens of people injured. Kyodo reported that hospitals in Yatsushiro received around 40 injured people, while approximately 50 others were transported to medical facilities in Kumamoto.

Transportation was also disrupted across the region. Shinkansen bullet trains and local rail services on Kyushu were temporarily suspended for safety inspections. The runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was also closed, with no immediate timeline given for reopening.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense said it had dispatched aircraft to assess the situation and gather information on the damage.

Kyodo also reported that a train derailed and tipped over at Yatsushiro Station, while the powerful shaking reportedly damaged stone walls at Kumamoto Castle.

The disaster has brought back painful memories of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which claimed more than 50 lives.

“I remember the Kumamoto earthquake 10 years ago, and I was really scared,” Hiroki Shimoda, an official at Mifune town hall, said after witnessing roof tiles fall to the ground.

With the threat of aftershocks still present, the Japan Meteorological Agency is urging residents to remain alert over the next two to three days.

As emergency crews continue assessing the damage and searching for those who may still be missing, the full impact of the earthquake is expected to become clearer in the coming hours.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/trung-tam-thuong-mai-nhat-ban-do-sap-trong-dong-dat-manh-nhieu-nguoi-mat-tich-post1863377.tpo