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M7.1 quake hits Kumamoto, Japan, triggering mall explosion; police fear many dead. Mall’s second floor collapsed, trapping people. PM deploys SDF.
An aerial view shows the damaged Aeon Mall shopping centre, where, according to local media, an explosion occurred after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture, in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 28, 2026. Kyodo/via REUTERS
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Tuesday afternoon, triggering an explosion at a shopping mall that police say has caused a large number of deaths, Japanese broadcasters TBS and Fuji TV reported.
The quake hit at around 4:27pm local time and registered shindo 7, the highest level on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Strong aftershocks followed, and authorities have urged residents to remain alert for further large tremors.
The explosion occurred at Aeon Mall in Kashima town, Kumamoto Prefecture, shortly after the quake struck. Local fire officials told NHK that the mall’s second floor collapsed, trapping a large number of people inside. Witnesses reported white smoke rising from the building before the collapse.
Watch: Japanese Channel Helicopter Shows Aerial Footage Of Widespread Destruction To The Mall
🇯🇵 More than 50 people were injured in one of the prefectures on Kyushu Island in Japan after powerful 7,1 earthquakesJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported that the tremors caused fires, damage to roads and bridges, as well as the collapse of buildings.
NHK reported… pic.twitter.com/hTFjhdZPl1
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 28, 2026
A Kumamoto Prefectural Police official told TBS that the explosion is believed to have caused a significant number of deaths and that “many fatalities” are expected, though confirming an exact toll would take time. Local broadcaster RKK cited a police source as saying some 200 people had evacuated to the mall’s parking lot. Police have not yet issued a confirmed death count.
Watch: Damaged Building At Yatsushiro Castle Ruins After 7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Hits
The Yatsushiro Castle ruins, which was built in the 8th year of the Genna period (circa 1622) retains the appearance of the Edo period even today. The castle was destroyed after being hit by lightning in the 12th year of the Kambun period (circa 1672) and has not been rebuilt since. The ruins are symbols of Yatsushiro’s city center, even today, though only part of the moat and the stone wall remain.
PM Takaichi’s Remarks
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she had been informed of injuries in the quake-hit areas even as damage assessments continued. She announced the formation of an emergency disaster task force, which she will head, and confirmed that 3,600 Self-Defense Forces personnel are being dispatched to Kumamoto at the governor’s request.
“I’d like to extend our heartfelt condolences and our thoughts are with those affected by this disaster,” Takaichi told reporters.
The Japan Meteorological Agency briefly issued an alert for a tsunami of up to three feet along the coast before withdrawing it roughly two hours later.
The earthquake has disrupted transport across Kyushu. JR Kyushu suspended all operations on the Kyushu Shinkansen line, while the West Kyushu Shinkansen line is running with delays. Numerous local train services have also been halted. West Nippon Expressway confirmed the closure of multiple expressways, mainly in Kumamoto Prefecture. Highway overpasses on the Kyushu Expressway in Yatsushiro sustained significant damage, and part of a pedestrian bridge in the city reportedly collapsed.
Fire departments in Uki city, also in Kumamoto Prefecture, reported multiple fires and a high volume of emergency calls following the quake.
Kumamoto was previously struck by a pair of major earthquakes in April 2016 that killed dozens of people across the region.
About the Author
Anoshito Banerjee is a digital journalist at CNN-News18, specialising in Indian foreign policy, global diplomacy, South and West Asian geopolitics, and strategic affairs. His reporting spans hard news…Read More
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