A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan, prompting residents to recall the traumatic events of a decade ago.
According to Kyodo News and Yonhap News, the quake shook Uki City and Hikawamachi on July 28, leading residents who experienced a similar disaster in 2016 to express their fear, stating, "I couldn't stand up," and "It was terrifying."
A female staff member at a nursing home in Hikawamachi described the chaos, saying, "Even holding onto the desk, I couldn't keep my body steady. Both residents and staff fell and were injured."
Additionally, a representative from a ryokan in Kamiamakusa City reported that, "Bottles and dishes fell to the floor, and the possibility of broken pipes has left the floor flooded. We just entered the peak season, but cancellations are already coming in."
Meanwhile, NHK and Kyodo News reported that around 4 a.m. on July 29, eight people were rescued from the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture. Among them, two women in their 20s died, one was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest, and the remaining five injured individuals are not in life-threatening condition.
The earthquake occurred at 4:27 p.m. on July 28 near Uki City, causing approximately 200 visitors at the shopping mall to evacuate before an explosion was reported. Local media suggested that many employees may have returned to the store after guiding customers to safety.
In response to the disaster, an emergency safety request was issued for 46,610 households, affecting 92,743 residents in Kumamoto Prefecture. A total of 466 evacuation centers were established across 36 municipalities, with 4,744 individuals seeking refuge, according to Jiji Press.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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