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At least one person has died, about 80 have been injured, and it is feared that up to 30 others are trapped in the collapse of a shopping center in southern Japan, after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture.
One person was found in a collapsed house in the city of Yatsushiro and was taken to a hospital, where they subsequently died, the Japanese news agency Kyodo stated, citing Kumamoto police.
The Japanese television network NHK reported that about 80 people were receiving medical attention in the town of Hikawa, located in the Yatsushiro district. The prefectural police said they are trying to contact nine people whose whereabouts are unknown.
In addition, a shopping center in the area suffered an explosion during the afternoon, and authorities fear that a large number of people remain trapped inside, as reported by the Japanese news agency Kyodo.
The operator of the shopping center, Aeon Mall, stated that the explosion occurred after employees and customers had evacuated the building, but the Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency explained that many could still be trapped inside, some of whom are injured.
According to NHK, contact has been lost with between 20 and 30 employees of the center, and authorities are trying to confirm if they are trapped inside the building.
In images released by NHK, the shopping center, located in the town of Kashima in Kumamoto prefecture, can be seen with part of the wall detached and the roof collapsed.
Although Japanese authorities have not confirmed any fatalities at this time, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in a statement on the social network X that injuries have been confirmed, "as well as the collapse of buildings, damage to roads, and fires, among others."
The earthquake took place at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT), and its epicenter was located about 10 kilometers deep under Kumamoto prefecture, located on the Japanese island of Kyushu, detailed the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which initially issued a tsunami warning that has since been lifted.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi indicated in a statement to the media that 3,600 members of the Self-Defense Forces (Army) have been deployed to assist in search and rescue efforts.
Japan sits on the so-called Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active zones in the world, and experiences earthquakes with relative frequency, which is why its infrastructure is specially designed to withstand tremors.
[Publicidad]