As a magnitude 7.1 earthquake near Kumamoto Prefecture in western Kyushu, Japan, caused large-scale casualties, the Japanese government activated an emergency disaster response system on the 29th. Rescue operations are underway to find survivors trapped in collapsed large commercial facilities and dwellings, but recovery work is struggling as midsummer heat and the ongoing risk of aftershocks overlap.
According to a summary of the official announcement from the prime minister's office on the 29th, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held an emergency news conference that morning and said that, as of 8:30 a.m. on the 29th, 13 deaths from the earthquake had been officially confirmed. The strong quake struck at about 4:27 p.m. on the 28th with its epicenter in the Kumamoto region. In particular, some areas, including Uki city's Hikawa town, recorded the maximum seismic intensity of 7.
Takaichi said, "Due to the earthquake, explosions occurred at large shopping malls such as Aeon Mall, leading to partial building collapses, and large-scale damage such as building destruction and fires, as well as road and bridge damage, has been confirmed across many areas," conveying the grim situation.
Takaichi expressed deep condolences to those sadly lost in the earthquake and offered comfort to the bereaved families and the injured. She noted, "There are people currently waiting to be rescued, and the rescue operation is a race against time," underscoring the urgency on the ground. The prime minister added that saving lives is the government's top priority and that it will mobilize national resources for emergency disaster measures to rescue even one more person, working closely with local police and fire authorities. Earlier, immediately after the quake on the 28th, the Japanese government dispatched a Cabinet Office survey team straight to the disaster site. Relevant ministries were strictly instructed to provide key information on tsunamis and evacuations to the public promptly and appropriately.
The earthquake-hit areas are facing not only risks of building collapse but also widespread mass power outages and water supply stoppages. On top of that, a heat wave is worsening the suffering of local residents. Takaichi announced a policy to devote all efforts to restoring essential infrastructure and urged, "Residents in the affected areas, including those engaged in rescue operations, please beware of heat-related illnesses in the hot weather." Accordingly, the Japanese government is focusing on quickly supplying drinking water and other daily necessities, emergency generators, and cooling products to the field to prevent secondary casualties from the heat.
Takaichi, noting that the disaster struck around dinner preparation time, urged, "Beware of fires caused by gas leaks, and evacuate quickly to a safe location to avoid injuries from broken glass or ceramic shards inside the home." In areas where strong shaking was observed, there is a high possibility of a similar-scale earthquake occurring again over the next week, requiring particular caution.
Immediately after the strong quake on the 28th, the Japanese government set up an emergency disaster response headquarters and held its first nighttime meeting. At 1:30 p.m. on the 29th, the prime minister's office said it would reconvene the headquarters meeting to discuss, in depth, government-wide relief and recovery support measures.