At least 13 people have been confirmed dead after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan, triggering structural collapses, train derailments, and widespread destruction across the region. The death toll is expected to rise as emergency crews continue searching through the rubble of flattened buildings and damaged commercial centers in the hardest-hit areas of Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the casualties during a national address, announcing that search and rescue operations have been escalated to a war-footing. Continuous overnight efforts yielded expanded morning operations involving specialized disaster response teams, firefighters, and military personnel tasked with locating scores of residents who remain unaccounted for beneath collapsed infrastructure.
The impact of the quake has severely disrupted local infrastructure, leaving thousands without power and water while rescue workers race against time. Government authorities have deployed emergency medical teams to treat dozens of injured citizens while closely monitoring potential aftershocks and coastal warnings, emphasizing that the primary focus remains on saving lives during the critical post-disaster window.