A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, killing at least 13 people and injuring hundreds more as rescue teams worked through the night to reach survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.
The quake struck at around 4:27 p.m. local time, with its epicentre near Uki City in Kumamoto Prefecture at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The tremor registered the maximum intensity of 7 on Japan’s seismic scale in Uki City and Hikawa town, making it one of the most severe quakes to hit the region since the deadly 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.
Death Toll and Injuries
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed on Wednesday morning that 13 people had died in the disaster, while cautioning that the full extent of casualties and damage was still being assessed. Local authorities said more than 380 people had been injured, with several in critical condition at hospitals across Kumamoto Prefecture.
A significant portion of the casualties resulted from a fire and structural collapse at the Aeon Mall shopping centre in Kashima Town, where an explosion occurred in the aftermath of the quake. Fire department officials said eight people were pulled from the mall overnight, of whom two women in their twenties were confirmed dead and one other person was in cardiopulmonary arrest. Between 20 and 30 workers were reported missing from the mall, according to rescue officials.
Rescue Operations and Missing Persons
Hundreds of Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, along with local fire and police units, have been deployed for search-and-rescue operations across Kumamoto Prefecture. Rescue teams worked through the night using heavy machinery and search dogs to clear rubble from collapsed structures. Officials said several people remained buried under a collapsed building near the earthquake’s epicentre in addition to those trapped at the mall.
Nearly 300,000 residents were urged to evacuate to designated shelters as a precaution against aftershocks and possible further building collapses. Separately, several workers were reported missing after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory near the affected area, according to public broadcaster NHK.
Tsunami Advisory and Aftershocks
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory of up to one metre for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea immediately after the quake, prompting coastal residents to move to higher ground. The advisory was later downgraded as no significant tsunami waves were recorded along the coastline.
The JMA warned of continued strong aftershocks over the coming week and urged residents in Kumamoto and neighbouring prefectures to remain cautious near damaged buildings, slopes and coastal areas. Several aftershocks, including one measuring above magnitude 5, were recorded within hours of the main quake.
Impact on Infrastructure and Businesses
The earthquake caused widespread power outages, cutting electricity to thousands of homes across Kumamoto Prefecture. Rail operators suspended Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train services and several local lines as engineers inspected tracks and stations for structural damage. Roads in the affected areas sustained cracks and landslide debris, complicating access for rescue vehicles.
The chimney collapse at the Nippon Paper Industries factory forced a halt in production, while several other manufacturing units in the industrial belt around Kumamoto City reported damage to equipment and buildings. Local businesses, including the Aeon Mall shopping centre, remained closed as authorities assessed structural safety.
Government Response
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government has set up a disaster task force to coordinate rescue and relief operations, assess the damage and prepare additional support for affected residents. The Cabinet Office’s Disaster Management Division has been coordinating with prefectural authorities on evacuation shelters and emergency supplies for the nearly 300,000 people advised to evacuate.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have mobilised additional personnel to support search-and-rescue efforts, echoing the large-scale military deployment seen during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which killed 277 people. Authorities have asked residents to conserve water and electricity as utility crews work to restore services in the hardest-hit areas.
Why It Matters
The Kumamoto earthquake highlights Japan’s continued vulnerability to seismic activity along the Kyushu fault systems, a decade after the 2016 quakes devastated the same region. It underscores the ongoing challenges of urban disaster preparedness, particularly the risks posed to shopping centres and industrial facilities during major tremors, and reinforces the importance of rapid, coordinated emergency response in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations.