7.1 magnitude earthquake rocks southern Japan
· Toronto Sun
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One person is dead, more than 100 have been injured, and dozens of people were feared trapped in a collapsed shopping mall after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit southern Japan early Tuesday.
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Local broadcaster TBS reported a “considerable number” of people were feared dead inside the shopping mall in Kashima after the fire department said the second floor of the mall collapsed in the quake. “Many people” were trapped in the building, according to emergency responders, but they couldn’t confirm any deaths.
A mall spokesperson said customers and employees were evacuated from the area. Authorities are investigating a possible gas explosion, according to NTV. The mall recently commemorated the 10th anniversary of its recovery from a 2016 earthquake, and was said to have included seismically reinforced ceilings to improve safety.
Kazuya Tsurunaga told TBS he heard an explosion while cleaning inside a nearby pub.
“It was a huge impact,” he said. “A large cloud of smoke billowed up, and because the wind happened to be blowing and the wind direction was towards the shop, the area around us was in a state like volcanic ash was falling.”
Japanese PM responds
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the extent of the casualties and damage from the quake was not yet known.
“We have already been informed that people have been injured. Power outages and fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings,” Takaichi said. “I ask everyone to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to a safe location.”
Takaichi added her government has set up an emergency task force, and 3.600 soldiers would be deployed to help rescue and recover.
NHK reported that several people were missing at a factory in Yatsushiro city where the tip of a chimney fell. Another person died in a house collapse.
Damage across Japan
Across Kyushu island in southern Japan, NHK had broadcast footage of blazes, bridges damaged in the quake, a derailed train and several houses about to collapse.
The earthquake hit at 4:27 p.m. local time , the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Its epicentre was 20 km south of Kumamoto, the largest city on Kyushu island with a population of 700,000. Several aftershocks followed half an hour later.
Evacuees, lost power
About 300,000 people have been told to go to evacuation centres, according to authorities. Kyushu Electric Power says 40,000 homes are now without power as a result of the earthquake. Trains and flights have been suspended. Tsunami warnings were initially issued but later lifted.