A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, leading to the partial collapse of the Aeon Mall Kumamoto. Reports indicate that several people are trapped inside the building.
According to NHK, at around 6 p.m. local time, multiple calls were received reporting an explosion and white smoke rising from the mall located in Kashima Town.
The Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that part of the second floor of the shopping mall collapsed, trapping several individuals inside. Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Injured individuals have been transported to hospitals, while police and fire departments are conducting search operations to determine if there are additional people trapped.
Authorities believe that approximately 200 people who were in the mall at the time of the incident evacuated to the parking lot.
Footage captured by an NHK helicopter around 6:20 p.m. showed parts of the building's exterior had fallen away, exposing the steel framework, with sections of the roof collapsed and a large hole visible on the rooftop.
Witnesses near the scene provided accounts of the incident. A restaurant employee told NHK, "While I was cleaning the store, I heard a loud bang, and immediately afterward, a massive cloud of dust rose from the direction of the Aeon Mall."
The Japan Meteorological Agency indicated that tremors of magnitude 5 or higher were felt in Kashima Town, but the exact magnitude is still under investigation.
The Aeon Mall Kumamoto, which opened in 2005, is a large shopping complex covering an area of 224,000 square meters with a total floor space of 120,000 square meters. It features a large supermarket, restaurants, clothing stores, a movie theater, and hot spring facilities, with parking space for approximately 5,000 vehicles.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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