Rescue teams continued a frantic search for survivors across Japan's southern island of Kyushu on Wednesday after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, killing at least 13 people, injuring more than 100 and leaving many feared trapped beneath collapsed structures.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the death toll while warning that the full extent of the devastation was still being assessed.
"Thirteen people have died," Takaichi said on Wednesday.
The earthquake struck late Tuesday afternoon, damaging roads, bridges and buildings, triggering fires, causing widespread power outages and temporarily prompting a tsunami advisory, which was lifted within two hours by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Authorities said "many people" were feared trapped inside a shopping mall in the town of Kashima after part of the building collapsed during the quake. Local broadcaster TBS reported that a considerable number of people were feared dead inside the structure, while emergency crews continued search and rescue operations through the night.
In response to the disaster, Prime Minister Takaichi announced the formation of an Emergency Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters to coordinate rescue efforts and monitor the evolving situation.
"In light of the emerging reports of extensive damage and evacuations, I established the Emergency Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters, with myself as the head and relevant Cabinet Ministers as members," she said.
The Prime Minister said the affected regions were grappling with electricity outages and water shortages, adding that soaring temperatures had also heightened the risk of heatstroke for residents and rescue personnel.
Earlier, Takaichi said the government had created a dedicated task force to gather information, assess the scale of the disaster and coordinate emergency response measures.
"There have been reports of several injuries and damage to roads, bridges and buildings, as well as blackouts and fire, though details are still unclear," she told reporters, urging residents to exercise caution while cooking and to remain alert to broken glass and other hazards.
The earthquake also disrupted Japan's industrial sector.
Automaker Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it would suspend operations at three manufacturing plants in southern Japan through Friday as it assessed the impact on suppliers and logistics.
"The situation, including aftershocks and recovery efforts, is changing daily," the company said in a statement announcing the temporary shutdown of its Miyata, Kanda and Kokura plants.
The quake also derailed a cargo train, damaged transport infrastructure and cut electricity to around 45,000 households, raising concerns over supply chains and recovery operations.
Emergency responders remain engaged in large-scale rescue efforts as aftershocks continue to shake the region. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant while assessments of structural damage and casualty figures continue.
The earthquake is one of Japan's deadliest natural disasters in recent years, with rescue teams racing against time to locate those still trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
