Powerful Earthquake Strikes Southern Japan’s Kumamoto, Leaving One Dead and Many Hurt
A powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu on Tuesday. It caused widespread damage. Buildings collapsed and fires broke out. Many people were injured.
The earthquake struck at 4:30 PM local time. Its center was near the coastal city of Uto. This location is about 48 kilometers southwest of Kumamoto City. The quake was first reported as magnitude 7.1. Later, experts revised it to 6.8.
The strong tremor damaged many structures. Roads were badly affected. Power went out for thousands of homes. At the Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto City, part of the second floor fell. An explosion happened there about an hour later.
Police reported that at least one person died in a hospital. This person was found in a collapsed house. Twenty to thirty shopping mall workers were reported missing. Hospitals in the area treated more than 90 wounded people. Ten of these people had serious injuries.
About 300,000 people were told to go to safe places. More than 60 smaller tremors, called aftershocks, followed the main earthquake. These aftershocks made rescue work difficult. Residents were warned to expect more tremors.
No problems were found at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant. This plant is located in a nearby prefecture. The earthquake was even felt in South Korea, Japan’s neighbor. Parts of the Kyushu Expressway split apart. A section of the wall around Kumamoto Castle also collapsed.
Japan often experiences earthquakes. It sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. This area has many shifting earth plates. Strict building rules help to reduce harm. People also practice earthquake drills regularly. These measures help to keep casualties low during such events.
