Rescuers in southern Japan search for missing people after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes the region and causes widespread damage. Officials report the death toll stands at at least 13, with teams racing to reach trapped survivors in heavily damaged buildings. Multiple outlets describe urgent searches at a badly damaged shopping mall, where rescuers comb through rubble to locate people believed to be inside. Reports also indicate collapsed houses and damage to other structures, including a factory, prompting emergency workers to broaden their search beyond the mall.
The earthquake disrupts infrastructure in the affected areas. Sources say power is knocked out for thousands of homes, and roads are damaged or ruptured, complicating rescue operations. Soldiers and emergency responders work alongside other teams to remove debris and haul survivors from collapsed areas. As efforts continue, authorities and responders assess the extent of structural damage and the scale of missing persons while maintaining search and rescue activities in the hardest-hit locations.
