A major earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday afternoon, injuring at least 50 people, cutting power to around 40,000 homes and trapping shoppers inside a shopping centre.
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Key facts
- The earthquake hit Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island on Tuesday.
- At least 50 people were injured, according to multiple outlets.
- Around 40,000 homes were left without power.
- Shoppers were reported trapped inside a shopping centre or mall.
A major earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday afternoon local time, injuring at least 50 people and causing widespread damage, according to reports from Sky News, CNBC, Al Jazeera and NPR.
Reporting on the quake’s magnitude varied across outlets. Sky News described a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in some reports and a 7.1-magnitude quake in another, while Al Jazeera reported a magnitude 6.8 earthquake striking Kyushu island.
The quake knocked out power to thousands of homes, with Sky News reporting around 40,000 homes left without electricity. CNBC said the earthquake knocked out power to thousands of homes and injured at least 50 people.
Shoppers were reported trapped inside a shopping centre, described by Sky News as a mall. CNBC also reported workers missing following a mall blast and said deaths were feared in a shopping mall explosion.
Al Jazeera reported that the earthquake caused building collapses, fires and widespread damage on Kyushu island. NPR said the quake shook Kumamoto late Tuesday afternoon local time, causing damage and injuries.
Reports also differed on the tsunami threat. Sky News said the earthquake triggered a tsunami alert, while NPR reported that no tsunami was detected following the strong quake.
Why it matters
Japan sits in one of the world's most seismically active regions, and strong earthquakes can cause casualties, structural collapses and prolonged power outages. Early reports of trapped shoppers and a possible mall explosion underline the human toll and the challenges facing emergency responders in the hours after a major quake.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the earthquake hit?
The earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, on Kyushu island, according to Al Jazeera and NPR.
How many people were injured?
At least 50 people were injured, according to Sky News, CNBC and other outlets.
Was there a tsunami?
Reports differed. Sky News said the quake triggered a tsunami alert, while NPR reported that no tsunami was detected.
Timeline
- Death toll in Japan earthquake rises to 30 as aftershock and heat hamper rescue efforts
The Guardian World: Soldiers and emergency teams search badly damaged shopping centre, paper mill and homes for survivors The death toll from the powerful earthquake that hit Japan on Tuesday has risen to 30, as the search for survivors trapped in a badly damaged shopping centre, paper mill and coll
- Death toll in Japan earthquake rises to 28 as aftershock and heat complicate rescue efforts
The Guardian World: Soldiers and emergency workers are searching a badly damaged shopping mall, paper mill and collapsed houses for survivors The death toll from the major earthquake that hit Japan on Tuesday rose to 28 as the search for trapped survivors inside a badly damaged shopping mall and col
- ‘Like volcanic ash falling’: Inside Aeon mall after Japan’s earthquake
Al Jazeera: Japanese PM Takaichi says 'race against time' to rescue those trapped in the mall and others affected by the quake.
- Death toll in Japan earthquake rises to 23 as aftershock and heat complicate rescue efforts
The Guardian World: Soldiers and emergency workers are combing through a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses looking for trapped survivors The death toll from the major earthquake that hit Japan on Tuesday rose to at least 23 as the search for trapped survivors inside a badly damaged sh
- Death toll in Japan earthquake rises to 17 as aftershock and heat complicate rescue efforts
The Guardian World: Soldiers and emergency workers are combing through a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses looking for trapped survivors The death toll from the major earthquake that hit Japan on Tuesday has risen to 17, as the search for trapped survivors inside a badly damaged shopp
- Japan earthquake leaves widespread destruction
Al Jazeera: Japan earthquake leaves widespread destruction
- ‘The shaking was terrifying’: stories of survival and loss emerge after Japan earthquake
The Guardian World: Rescuers pulling people from the wreckage in southern Japan in a haunting repeat of disaster that struck 10 years ago ‘Race against time’: Japan earthquake death toll rises as rescue teams search for missing “There was a voice coming from the collapsed house, and I could see a ha
- 'I thought I would die': Survivors describe the shock and horror of powerful Japan earthquake
BBC World: Rescue operations are ongoing following the 6.8-magnitude quake, as survivors wrestle with the shock.
- 'I thought I would die': Survivors describe shock and horror of powerful Japan earthquake
BBC World: Rescue operations are ongoing following the 6.8-magnitude quake, as survivors wrestle with the shock.
- Rescuers search for the missing after Japan earthquake as death toll rises to 13
NPR News: Soldiers and emergency workers combed through a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses looking for trapped survivors Wednesday after a powerful earthquake that killed at least 13 people.
- ‘Race against time’: Japan earthquake death toll rises as rescue teams search for missing
The Guardian World: Military mobilises thousands of personnel after quake on southern Kyushu island that registered a maximum 7 on the Japanese shindo intensity scale At least 13 people were killed when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday, injuring hundreds and knocking out p
- Japan earthquake death toll rises as rescue teams search for missing amid aftershocks
The Guardian World: Military mobilises thousands of personnel after quake on southern Kyushu island that registered a maximum 7 on the Japanese shindo intensity scale At least five people have been killed, and nine are missing after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday, injuri
- Japan earthquake injures at least 100 and kills two inside shopping mall
The Guardian World: Kumamoto shaken by 6.8-magnitude quake, knocking out power and damaging buildings, as people remain trapped inside shopping centre A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has shaken south Japan, killing at least two people and leaving at least 100 people injured. Some are trapped and presumed
- Japan Kumamoto earthquake: What happened, damage, victims, latest updates
Al Jazeera: A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Japan's Kyushu island, causing building collapses, fires and widespread damage.
- Japan earthquake injures at least 100 and traps many inside shopping mall
The Guardian World: Deaths expected as Kumamoto shaken by 6.8-magnitude quake, knocking out power and damaging buildings A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has shaken south Japan, leaving at least 100 people injured. Some are trapped and presumed dead inside a shopping mall. The earthquake hit Kumamoto pref
- Major quake hits southern Japan, workers missing after mall blast
CNBC Top News: A major earthquake rocked Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, knocking out power to thousands of homes and injuring at least 50 people.
- Powerful quake hits southern Japan, deaths feared in shopping mall blast
CNBC Top News: A major earthquake rocked Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, knocking out power to thousands of homes and injuring at least 50 people.
- Japan earthquake injures 50 and traps ‘many people’ inside shopping mall
The Guardian World: Deaths expected as Kumamoto shaken by 6.8-magnitude quake, knocking out power and damaging buildings A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has shaken south Japan, leaving at least 50 people injured, with some trapped and presumed dead inside a partly collapsed shopping mall. The earthquake
- A strong earthquake shakes part of southern Japan but no tsunami detected
NPR News: The quake shook Kumamoto, on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu, late Tuesday afternoon local time, causing damage and injuries.
- Powerful quake hits southern Japan, deaths feared in shopping mall explosion
CNBC Top News: A major earthquake rocked Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, knocking out power to thousands of homes and injuring at least 50 people.