A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan’s southern Kyushu island on July 28, triggering widespread damage. Authorities confirmed that an explosion occurred at Aeon Mall Kumamoto, leading to a partial collapse of the building’s second floor, with multiple people reported trapped inside. Rescue teams, firefighters, and emergency personnel are carrying out search-and-rescue operations.
Key developments:
- A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck at around 4:27 p.m. JST, with the strongest shaking reaching seismic intensity 7 in parts of Kumamoto.
- An explosion at Aeon Mall Kumamoto caused part of the second floor to collapse, trapping several people inside. The exact cause of the blast remains under investigation.
- Emergency rescue operations are underway, with firefighters searching for survivors and evacuating the injured.
- The earthquake also caused power outages, road damage, fires, transport disruptions, and prompted evacuation advisories for hundreds of thousands of residents. A tsunami advisory was briefly issued and later lifted.
Verdict: ✅ True — Credible reports from Reuters, AP, and Japanese authorities confirm that the earthquake was followed by an explosion and partial collapse at a Kumamoto shopping mall, with rescue operations continuing.
