Major earthquake shakes southern Japan, some trapped in damaged shopping mall

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kyushu island on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, causing widespread power outages, rupturing roads, and triggering a shopping mall explosion where multiple people are presumed dead. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said 3,600 soldiers would be deployed for disaster recovery as aftershocks continue.

The strong tremor struck around 4:27 p.m. local time, centered about 20 kilometres south of Kumamoto, which serves as central Kyushu’s largest city with a population of approximately 700,000, as reported by public broadcaster NHK. The initial jolt knocked out electricity across the region, while transportation networks ground to a halt as safety inspections began.

Shopping Mall Blast and Industrial Damage in Kumamoto

The most severe damage centered on the prefecture’s largest shopping center, where an explosion rocked the structure in the immediate aftermath of the initial tremor. Broadcaster TBS reported that police consider quite a few people presumed dead following the blast, while local fire services confirmed multiple individuals remained trapped inside.

Photo: Reuters

Footage from the scene revealed that one side of the commercial complex—housing roughly 200 stores—was torn away, leaving steel beams exposed and scattering debris across the parking lot. An Aeon spokesperson stated that customers and employees evacuated immediately after the quake hit, though the precise cause of the ensuing explosion remained unclear. Witnesses nearby described a severe shockwave. Kazuya Tsurunaga told broadcasters that he heard the blast while cleaning up broken dishes inside a pub situated about 300 metres from the shopping center, stating that it was a huge impact.

Industrial sites also suffered structural failures. A chimney collapse at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro prompted emergency responses as workers were reported missing.

Government Response and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Emergency Task Force

Speaking from her office in Tokyo, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed reporters regarding the unfolding emergency We have already been informed that people have been injured. Power outages and fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings, Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan she said, urging citizens to take protective action and evacuate safely.

Photo: CTV News

The government established a dedicated emergency task force to coordinate rescue operations. Takaichi announced that 3,600 military personnel would be deployed to assist with disaster recovery as aftershocks continued to rattle the region. Emergency warnings covered Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures.

Infrastructure Disruption and Tsunami Advisory Status

Transportation and utility infrastructure sustained immediate hits across Kyushu. Railway operator JR Kyushu suspended all local services alongside its high-speed Shinkansen bullet trains, and a train derailed and tipped onto its side at Yatsushiro station. Aso Kumamoto Airport closed its runway, forcing airlines to divert and cancel flights.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for waves measuring up to one metre following the tremor, but advisories covering the western coasts and Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas were lifted within two hours. Meanwhile, the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that no irregularities were detected at any nuclear power stations in the affected zone.

Historical Resonance and Ongoing Seismic Warnings

The disaster carried painful echoes for residents of Kumamoto, which was devastated a decade ago by a deadly seismic event in 2016 that claimed more than 50 lives, injured 1,800 people, and left tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed. Historic landmarks suffered once again on Tuesday, with officials confirming that portions of the stone walls at Kumamoto Castle collapsed.

Officials from the Japan Meteorological Agency warned residents in areas that experienced heavy shaking to remain vigilant for strong aftershocks and the heightened risk of landslides over the coming week.