A 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes southwestern Japan, with multiple outlets reporting damage at an Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto. Accounts describe the mall partially collapsing and an explosion-like blast reported from inside shortly after the quake. Dashcam footage shown by Euronews captures what it describes as a mall explosion following the earthquake, while other reports say shoppers flee as the building crumbles.
Emergency crews search for survivors among rubble and for people reported trapped inside. France 24 and other outlets report deaths and additional people still trapped, while GMA News and Free Malaysia Today report that injuries include dozens and that power outages affect thousands of homes after the quake. Several sources also reference warnings about aftershocks.
Coverage is consistent that the incident involves the Aeon mall in Kumamoto, that the earthquake is around magnitude 7.1, and that authorities and rescuers conduct search-and-rescue operations as casualty figures are updated.
