Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto, Japan: Shopping Center Collapses, Many Missing
Elizabeth Melimopoulos
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Kumamoto, Japan, causing a shopping center collapse and multiple injuries. At least one person died, dozens are missing, and over 60 aftershocks have been recorded.
On July 28, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook Kumamoto Prefecture on the southwestern island of Kyushu, Japan, causing widespread damage, toppling several buildings, and triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted. The quake struck at 4:30 p.m. local time (07:30 GMT).
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter was located near the city of Uto, about 48 kilometers southwest of Kumamoto city. Initially reported as magnitude 7.1, the quake was later revised downward to 6.8. A tsunami warning was issued but subsequently canceled.
At the Aeon shopping center in Kumamoto city, part of the second floor collapsed, and a major explosion occurred about an hour after the quake. Employees had managed to evacuate approximately 200 shoppers, but the blast blew out walls, exposing steel framework. According to NHK, 20 to 30 shopping center employees remain missing. Witnesses reported a gas odor in the area, though the cause of the explosion has not been determined. The shopping center had only reopened last month after being rebuilt following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.
NHK footage showed cracked sections of the Kyushu Expressway and a portion of the stone wall at Kumamoto Castle had collapsed. Rescue teams continue to assess damage to buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure. The Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture, located in the Kyushu region, reported no abnormalities at its two-reactor facility following the quake.
Regarding casualties, police confirmed at least one fatality at a hospital after the victim was found in a collapsed house. One hospital reported treating more than 50 injured people, while another received about 40 injury cases, including 10 in critical condition. Approximately 300,000 people were advised to evacuate.
Japan's Meteorological Agency recorded over 60 aftershocks following the main tremor, complicating rescue efforts. Residents have been warned to remain cautious of further aftershocks in the coming days. Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several major tectonic plates intersect, and experiences thousands of earthquakes every year.
Image: Overview of the devastated Aeon shopping center area after the earthquake. (Source: Kyodo/Reuters)
