A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan’s Kyushu island on July 28 at around 16:27 local time, registering the highest intensity level of 7 on Japan's Shindo scale [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The quake had a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers [6, 7].
Following the initial quake, a tsunami warning for a 1-meter wave was issued but later lifted when no tsunami was observed [2, 3, 4, 8, 6, 7]. More than 60 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 1 to 4, occurred in the days after the main shock, with authorities warning of continued strong quakes and landslides for about a week [9, 7].
At least 50 people were hospitalized with injuries caused by the earthquake [8, 9]. Many were trapped inside the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto after the shopping mall’s second floor partially collapsed amid reports of an explosion and smoke at the site [1, 6, 9, 7]. Police estimated between 20 and 30 employees remained trapped or missing in the mall [1, 7].
The quake cut power to approximately 40,000 to 45,000 households and caused widespread fires, collapsed buildings, and damaged roads and bridges across Kumamoto prefecture [1, 10, 11, 8, 9]. Historic Kumamoto Castle suffered damage again, including the collapse of some outer walls [1, 10, 11]. A chimney at the Nippon Paper Industries plant in Yatsushiro fell and police reported people missing at the plant [1, 10].
Train services, including the Shinkansen bullet trains, were suspended and flights grounded due to earthquake impacts [3, 4, 6]. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company evacuated employees from its Kumamoto production hub as a precautionary measure [5, 6, 7].
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated emergency teams had deployed 4,600 personnel to assist recovery efforts and urged residents to evacuate to safe locations. She said, "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" [9]. She warned, "Please take precautions, as there is a possibility of earthquakes of similar scale for about a week" [7].
Locals described the shaking as intense. Hiroko Ogata, co-owner of a diner in Yatsushiro, recalled, "I was surprised, and scared. I went under one of the tables right away, but the table moved sharply towards the right, left, right, left, with me" [11]. Kazuya Tsurunaga said at the mall site, "A large cloud of smoke billowed up, and because the wind happened to be blowing ... the area around us was in a state like volcanic ash was falling" [6]. An NHK reporter added, "Shaking is continuing as I speak... When the quake struck, the shaking was so big that I could not stand up" [8].
The Japanese government and local authorities continue rescue and recovery operations amid ongoing aftershocks. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders as emergency teams work to restore services and safety across the region.
