The death toll rose to 13 after the strong earthquake that hit Kumamoto prefecture, in southwestern Japan, on Tuesday (28). Search operations continued this Wednesday (29), with teams concentrating on properties that collapsed and places where people were still missing.
Terremoto arrasa Kumamoto: veja as imagens da destruição no Japão
The death toll rose to 13 after the strong earthquake that hit Kumamoto prefecture, in southwestern Japan, on Tuesday (28). Search operations continued this Wednesday (29), with teams concentrating on properties that...
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lamented the deaths and said rescue work needed to move quickly given the possibility of victims remaining under the rubble.
"There are people who are still waiting for help. Every second counts," he declared.
The earthquake occurred at 4:27 pm local time, with an epicenter in the Kumamoto region and an estimated depth of 10 kilometers. The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded magnitude 7.1, while the United States Geological Survey revised its initial measurement to 6.8.
The tremor reached the maximum level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, which assesses the effects of the tremor on the surface and its potential for destruction. A tsunami warning was issued, but was withdrawn shortly afterwards.
Buildings partially collapsed, fires were reported and structures such as bridges, transmission towers and sections of the walls of Kumamoto Castle suffered damage. A shopping center and a factory were among the worst affected, with workers and visitors trapped in the rubble.
At the Nippon Paper Industries factory, emergency teams were searching for missing employees after part of the structure collapsed. Other workers were evacuated in serious condition. Authorities were also searching the Aeon Mall, which was hit by an explosion and collapses.
Dozens of people were injured and thousands had to leave their homes. More than 36,000 properties remained without electricity this Wednesday, while residents were taken to shelters installed in the region.
The earthquake also affected roads, airports and railway lines. Bullet train service was suspended, flights were canceled or diverted, and different road sections were blocked for inspections and repairs.
Kumamoto had already been hit by a destructive sequence of earthquakes in 2016. At the time, two strong tremors, of magnitudes 6.5 and 7.3, left hundreds dead and thousands injured.
See the images in the gallery above.
7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Japan and triggers tsunami warning
Tremor was registered in Kumamoto province, in the south of the country, at 4:29 am Brasília time. Authorities have issued warnings for coastal areas of Kyushu and recommended that people stay away from the sea
Source: Noticias ao Minuto
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