Damage is mounting after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan's Kyushu island, with part of a large shopping mall collapsing. Dozens have been injured so far, and many people inside the mall are reported to be trapped.
According to NHK and others on the 28th, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred at about 4:27 p.m. near Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency said shaking as strong as a maximum intensity of 7 was observed, and a tsunami advisory for waves up to 1 meter high was issued at one point and later lifted.
The worst damage occurred at the large mixed-use shopping mall Ion Mall Kumamoto in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture. According to NHK, around 6 p.m. the roof, exterior wall, and part of the second floor collapsed with an explosive sound, and the National Fire Agency reported that many patrons were trapped inside and is conducting rescue operations.
The mall was open for business at the time, but immediately after the quake, customers were evacuated and about 200 people reportedly took shelter in the outdoor parking lot. A nearby restaurant employee told NHK, "After a booming 'thud' sound, a very large cloud of dust rose from the direction of the mall." The Japanese government is confirming the cause of the mall collapse and the extent of casualties.
Casualties from the quake also continued. According to NHK, as of 6 p.m., at least 50 injured people had been taken to a medical center in Hikawa, and at a nursing home, a dozen or so people were found to have fallen or been injured after falling from wheelchairs. Some Shinkansen passengers were also reported injured.
Beyond the building collapse, at least eight fires broke out in places including Uto, Hikawa, Yatsushiro, and Kashima in Kumamoto Prefecture, and cracks appeared in roads and bridges. Transportation disruptions included a freight train derailment, suspension of Shinkansen service, and closure of the runway at Kumamoto Airport, while about 40,000 households experienced power outages.
However, no abnormalities have been confirmed so far at key national infrastructure such as nuclear power plants and petrochemical facilities. The Japanese government set up a response office at the prime minister's residence to tally the damage and urged residents to be cautious against aftershocks and possible landslides.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that as of this afternoon, no injuries to South Koreans had been reported from the quake. The government is continuing to check for any impact on Korean nationals through its local missions.