Massive Earthquake Traps People In Collapsed Shopping Mall, ‘Quite A Few’ Feared Dead

A massive earthquake struck the island of Kyushu on Tuesday, registering a magnitude of 7.1 and causing the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto to collapse. “Quite a few” are feared dead, and more than two dozen remain missing from the mall alone.

Local outlet Kyodo News Agency reported that there may have been an explosion, possibly caused by a gas leak, just prior to the collapse, and an unknown number of people remained trapped inside. Search and rescue operations began almost immediately, as reported by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Several people were reportedly pulled from the wreckage and as many as 30 employees remain missing after the mall’s collapse, police told the Kyodo News Agency. A Fuji TV reporter said that a number of deaths have already been reported at the shopping center — and that “quite a few” are still feared to be among the dead.

The epicenter of the quake was near Uto, just south of Kumamoto on Kyushu’s western coast, roughly 540 miles from Tokyo. The quake prompted a series of tsunami advisories in the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas, all of which were lifted after several hours. Landslides were also a concern in the immediate aftermath of the quake, which was followed by a series of smaller tremors.

The Kumamoto earthquake triggered a landslide on Mount Mayu in Shimabara, Nagasaki, Japan. pic.twitter.com/wXvNMDpJ84

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Bridges and roads were also damaged in the quake, causing problems for those who are attempting to evacuate the affected areas.

The quake was reportedly measured at just over six miles below the earth’s surface — relatively shallow — which means that the seismic waves have less distance to travel before reaching the surface and are often stronger near the epicenter than a quake of the same magnitude that began deeper beneath the earth’s surface. The end result is much greater damage focused near the epicenter of the quake, The Washington Post reported.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the press that cabinet officials had been dispatched to the area to review the damages, and the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned locals to be prepared for additional aftershocks in the coming days.

Additionally, nearly 50,000 households were left without power after the quake — and more than 300,000 people were told to leave their homes and head to evacuation centers for the time being. Local trains and airports have temporarily suspended operations and are undergoing safety checks.

Almost 100 people have already been taken to local hospitals — at least 40 in Yatsushiro and another 50 in Kumamoto.

“We are aware of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto, and USFJ leaders have been in touch with our partners in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Initial reports indicate no damage to any U.S. facilities in the region. Our thoughts and prayers are with our Japanese hosts,” U.S. Forces Japan said.