Earthquake in Kumamoto: Search for Survivors Amid Widespread Damage

The Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s Yatsushiro factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, displayed significant damage to its chimney following a recent earthquake. This imagery, captured on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, highlights the aftermath in Yatsushiro.

In Kumamoto, Japan, soldiers and emergency personnel combed through a heavily damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses. They searched for survivors trapped by a powerful earthquake that has claimed at least 13 lives. The quake left many missing in southwestern Japan.

Bullet train services and some airport operations remained halted as evaluations of the damage continued. The earthquake registered at magnitude 7.1 and struck the Kumamoto area on Kyushu’s southern main island.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized, “There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time.” She assured that every effort would be made to locate and rescue as many as possible.

Government spokesman Minoru Kihara reported that approximately 36,900 homes were without electricity. Additionally, 9,500 homes lacked gas service, and communication networks were down in several areas.

Over 9,000 residents sought refuge in more than 500 shelters. Power sources were being added to ensure air conditioning was available in these evacuation centers as the region battles a heat wave. Temperatures were expected to surpass 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

Japan’s Self Defense Forces participated in search and rescue efforts at the severely damaged Aeon Mall in Kashima. The mall’s second floor collapsed, trapping people inside. An explosion, likely from a gas leak, caused this incident. The exact number of people trapped remains unknown.

The Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s factory in Yatsushiro also suffered a chimney collapse, trapping individuals beneath the rubble. As of Wednesday, seven people were believed to be trapped, with two survivors and two bodies recovered.

Prime Minister Takaichi mentioned that the federal government was organizing deliveries of food and essentials to the worst-hit areas. She expressed condolences to the victims and encouraged quake-affected residents to prioritize their well-being, given the hot weather.

Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train operations were still on hold. Aso Kumamoto Airport resumed activities after a temporary closure of one runway on Tuesday. However, some flights faced cancellations.

Stone walls at Kumamoto Castle, a major tourist landmark, sustained damage. The castle, still under repair from a devastating 2016 earthquake, faced fresh challenges. Kyodo News noted, “The shaking reminded me of the Kumamoto quake (10 years ago), and I was frightened,” expressed Hiroki Shimoda, a Mifune town hall official, after witnessing roof tiles fall from nearby homes.

The 2016 Kumamoto quake previously resulted in at least 50 fatalities.