Rescuers in Japan haul survivors from collapsed mall as earthquake toll rises to 13

Lead

Rescue workers and soldiers in southern Japan have been working through the night to search for survivors after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens more. The quake caused widespread damage, including the collapse of a shopping mall and a factory smokestack, and left thousands of homes without power.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said rescue workers faced a "race against time" to reach people still trapped. "Even now, there are people waiting to be rescued, and this is a race against time," she told reporters in Tokyo, as quoted by multiple outlets. "We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can," she said, according to The Guardian — World and South China Morning Post.

Coverage Comparison

The death toll of at least 13 people was reported by ABC Australia, Dawn, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian — World, and South China Morning Post, all citing the Japanese prime minister. However, The Hindu — World reported a higher figure of at least 18 people killed, citing the prefectural government. The number of injured also varied: ABC Australia reported 64 people injured, six of them critical, while The Hindu — World reported 62 people injured, six seriously. These discrepancies suggest officials have been updating figures as rescue efforts continue.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of missing people. The Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, which was bustling with customers when the quake struck, saw its second floor collapse. The mall operator Aeon said four workers remained unaccounted for, according to multiple outlets. The Hindu — World reported that three people were missing at the mall, while four deaths had been confirmed there.

Key Claims

• Magnitude and location: A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southern Japan's Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, according to ABC Australia, Deutsche Welle, Dawn, The Guardian — World, and The Hindu — World. The US Geological Survey measured it at magnitude 6.8, as reported by The Guardian — World.
• Death toll: At least 13 people have died, according to the Japanese prime minister, as reported by ABC Australia, Deutsche Welle, Dawn, The Guardian — World, and South China Morning Post. The Hindu — World reported at least 18 deaths, citing the prefectural government.
• Mall collapse and explosion: The Aeon Mall in Kashima Town collapsed after an apparent explosion about an hour after the quake. Eight people were pulled from the rubble, but three later died, according to Dawn and Deutsche Welle. A gas leak was suspected as the cause of the blast, reported ABC Australia and South China Morning Post, citing prefectural officials and a government source. The mall had only recently reopened last month after repairs from a 2016 earthquake, as reported by ABC Australia.
• Factory deaths: Five people were killed in a factory smokestack collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries plant, reported Deutsche Welle. The Guardian — World noted that seven people were still missing at the factory, and ABC Australia reported four others seriously injured.
• Power outages: More than 36,000 homes were still without power, reported Deutsche Welle. The Guardian — World said nearly 37,000 homes were without electricity, and 9,500 without gas.
• Evacuations: About 3,000 customers were evacuated from the Aeon Mall to a parking lot after the quake, before the explosion occurred, according to ABC Australia and The Hindu — World.

Perspectives

Japanese authorities: The government has prioritized rescue efforts. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged rescue workers to "go all out" and described the situation as a "race against time." She also offered condolences to victims and urged those affected to take care under hot weather, as reported by South China Morning Post and ABC Australia.

Mall operator Aeon: Aeon has acknowledged the loss of life at its mall. President Akio Yoshida said at a news conference, "We take it seriously that an explosion happened and precious lives were lost," and bowed deeply with other executives, as reported by The Hindu — World.

Witnesses and survivors: Local residents described panic and chaos. Takateru Sonoda, who runs a hair salon near the mall, told Jiji Press: "I thought a bomb had gone off. There were people calling on others to evacuate and sirens were ringing out. Nearby roads were gridlocked, it was a state of panic," as reported by The Guardian — World.

Hospitals: Medical facilities near the epicenter are under severe strain. A hospital in the Uki district lost power and was unable to operate, with an administrator describing it as "like a field hospital" to NHK, as reported by Deutsche Welle. Another hospital suspended new admissions after treating 86 injured people.