Rescue Operations Continue in Japan After Powerful Earthquake and Aeon Mall Explosion Leave 13 Dead.
Kumamoto, Japan:
Rescue teams continued search operations at the site of the Aeon Mall in Japan after an explosion following a powerful earthquake left several people trapped under the rubble. Three people remain unaccounted for, while three mall workers have been confirmed dead, according to the mall’s president.
The disaster occurred after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, triggering widespread damage and emergency response operations across the affected areas. Authorities have launched extensive rescue efforts, with teams working through debris at the collapsed sections of the mall in a race to locate survivors.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said rescue teams were working against time as emergency personnel searched damaged structures and assisted affected residents. Confirming that at least 13 people had been killed across the country, the Prime Minister said there were still people in need of urgent help.
Search operations are also underway at the Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro, where authorities are continuing efforts to locate and assist people affected by the disaster.
The earthquake caused widespread panic among residents, with many describing terrifying moments during the tremors. A 75-year-old restaurant owner recalled the experience, saying, “I thought I would die,” while a cake shop owner located near Aeon Mall described experiencing “big jolts” one after another as the earthquake struck.
A Scottish resident living in Kumamoto said the intensity of the earthquake made it feel as though “the land became the sea,” highlighting the fear and uncertainty experienced by people during the disaster.
Emergency services, rescue workers, and local authorities remain engaged in search and relief operations as officials assess the full extent of the damage. The government has assured continued support for affected communities while rescue teams remain focused on finding missing people and providing assistance to those impacted by the earthquake.
