IAEA Reports No Issues at Sendai Nuclear Plant Following 7.1 Earthquake
Japan's Sendai Nuclear Power Plant is operating normally and has not sustained any damage following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Kyushu. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on July 28 that it received confirmation from Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) that there were no safety concerns or damage at the Sendai plant, located approximately 100 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter in Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated, "We will continue to monitor the situation."
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs Checking on Citizens' Safety After Quake
In the wake of the earthquake, tremors were felt across South Korea, prompting the Ministry of Internal Affairs to verify the safety of citizens. As of 7:30 PM on July 28, the ministry reported a total of 789 tremor reports from local governments and fire authorities nationwide. Most reports came from the southern regions, with citizens expressing concerns about the shaking.
The highest number of reports came from Busan with 291, followed by Gyeongnam with 215, Ulsan with 125, and Gyeongbuk with 69. Other regions reported fewer incidents, including Jeonnam (46), Incheon (17), Gwangju (9), Jeonbuk (5), Gyeonggi (4), Daejeon (3), and Chungbuk (2). Reports were also received from Daegu, Jeju, and Seoul, indicating that tremors were felt in most areas of the country.
Shopping Mall Collapses in Kumamoto, Many Trapped After Earthquake
Following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, part of the Aeon Mall Kumamoto collapsed, trapping several people inside. According to NHK, reports began coming in around 6 PM local time, indicating that an explosion was heard and white smoke was rising from the mall located in Kashima Town.
The Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that part of the second floor of the mall had collapsed, leaving multiple individuals trapped inside. Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Injured individuals are being transported to hospitals, and police and fire departments are conducting search operations for any additional trapped persons.
KOSPI Plummets 10% Amid Concerns Over China's Semiconductor Industry
The South Korean stock market experienced another "Black Tuesday" as the KOSPI index fell over 10% amid rising concerns about the rapid growth of China's semiconductor industry. On July 28, the Korea Exchange reported that the KOSPI closed at 6023.66, down 732.09 points (10.84%) from the previous trading day. The index began to decline sharply early in the session, quickly dropping below the 6100 mark and even falling to the 5000 range, marking its first drop below 6000 since April 14.
The decline was primarily driven by the semiconductor sector. Market analysts noted that concerns grew after Chinese memory chip maker Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) surged 465% on its first day of trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, coupled with news of China's efforts to localize DUV lithography equipment, raising worries about the long-term competitiveness of South Korea's semiconductor industry.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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