7.1 Magnitude Kumamoto Earthquake Casualties Rise as Death Toll Hits 13

Japan – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – The 7.1 magnitude Kumamoto earthquake casualties count has climbed to at least 13 dead, Japan’s government confirmed early Wednesday. The powerful tremor struck Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island Tuesday afternoon, leaving a trail of damage across the region.

Officials say more than 9,000 people are now staying in shelters. Government spokesman Minoru Kihara said 506 evacuation centers are currently open across five prefectures, including Kumamoto and Fukuoka.

Seven people suffered serious injuries in the quake. Another 29 people were hurt with minor wounds, according to early morning reports from Japanese authorities.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke to reporters a day after the disaster. She confirmed the rising death toll and described widespread damage across the region.

“Extensive damage has been confirmed, including casualties, collapsed buildings, fires and damage to roads,” Takaichi said. Officials are still checking whether every death is directly linked to the quake.

Mall Explosion Adds to Tragedy

Much of the tragedy centers on a shopping mall in the town of Kashima. A gas explosion tore through the building, according to a government source who spoke with Kyodo news agency.

The blast reportedly happened after most shoppers and staff had already left the building. Ceilings and walls came crashing down inside the mall following the explosion.

Five people out of eight who were rescued from the site suffered injuries. Early reports suggested up to 30 people may have been trapped inside the structure.

Police later told local broadcaster NHK that the real number appears lower. Rescue crews still haven’t found a safe way to enter parts of the damaged mall.

Factory Workers Missing, Power Cut Off

At a paper factory in Yatsushiro, nine workers remain unaccounted for. The facility’s smokestack partially collapsed during the powerful shaking.

Kumamoto prefecture also faces a massive power crisis right now. Local officials report nearly 37,000 homes and buildings are without electricity this morning.

This isn’t the first time the region has faced such destruction. Back in 2016, two quakes struck Kumamoto within days and killed 273 people.

Videos verified by news agencies show streetlights and heavy trucks swaying violently during the quake. Roads buckled in several areas, and parts of the historic Kumamoto Castle wall crumbled.

Military Steps In to Help

Train services on the bullet line were suspended following the disaster. Kumamoto airport also shut down for several hours before reopening later Tuesday night.

Japan’s defense minister confirmed that 3,600 military personnel have been sent to help with rescue work. Twenty aircraft are now surveying the damage from above.

Japan sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the most quake-prone nations on earth. Many still remember the devastating 2011 tsunami, which killed or left missing roughly 18,500 people and damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Rescue efforts continue across Kyushu island as authorities work to reach anyone still trapped. Officials say the full scope of damage may take days to fully assess.