More than 100 aftershocks have rattled Japan’s southern Kyushu after a 6.8 magnitude quake hit Kumamoto Tuesday. The tremor left 13 people dead and caused residents to wake to collapsed buildings and debris.
Rescue teams battle heat as temperatures rise to 35℃ (95℉) during cleanup. Air‑conditioning units are being flown in to help crews and survivors cope with the heat while they dig through rubble at the paper factory and Aeon Mall.
Aeon Mall explosion followed the quake—white smoke rose from the demolished structure and three workers were confirmed dead. Three other employees are still missing; the mall employs 2,700 people. The president apologized and press‑conceded that the incident shocked everyone involved.
JMA warns of more quakes—it’s possible for future tremors up to intensity 7 in the next two to three days. Rescue and emergency services remain active, with over 4,600 personnel on the ground and thousands housed in evacuation centres. The community is in a race against time to save trapped residents and restore normalcy across Kumamoto and surrounding areas.
