7.1 magnitude quake ravages Japan; videos show collapsed mall, roads split open

A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kyushu island on Tuesday. Buildings collapsed, shoppers were trapped and at least 50 people were injured. Rescue operations are underway after the partial collapse of an Aeon shopping mall.An aerial view shows rescue workers conducting a search and rescue operation at the damaged Aeon Mall shopping centre. (Photo: Reuters)A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction across the country's south-west. Buildings collapsed, bridges were damaged and power was cut to tens of thousands of homes. At least 50 people were injured, while rescue teams searched for survivors trapped beneath debris. Japan's meteorological agency said 61 aftershocks had been recorded following the initial quake.The earthquake hit Kyushu island at 4:27 PM local time. A tsunami warning was issued shortly afterwards but lifted within an hour. Emergency responders rushed to rescue operations as fires erupted, transport services were suspended after large cracks appeared on major roads.BREAKING: Police are searching for 20–30 employees feared trapped after the partial collapse of Aeon Mall in Kumamoto, Japan. pic.twitter.com/05zbcTMbKs— Scope Report (@ScopeReport_) July 28, 2026MALL COLLAPSES AFTER POWERFUL QUAKERescue operations are underway at several locations across the affected region. One of the biggest rescue efforts is focused on a partially collapsed Aeon shopping mall, where multiple people remain trapped. Local fire authorities said the second floor of the shopping complex in the town of Kashima had collapsed. The collapse left "many people" trapped inside, they added. Local media also reported that several people are feared dead following the collapse, although authorities have yet to confirm the death toll.Footage broadcast by NHK showed thick white smoke rising from the structure as frightened shoppers rushed into the parking area. Large sections of the mall's exterior were torn away, exposing steel beams beneath the facade. An explosion occurred at Aeon Mall in Kumamoto, Japan, following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake.The second floor collapsed, with several people trapped as emergency crews responded, according to the fire department. pic.twitter.com/EIPwqDTl8u— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) July 28, 2026 NHK also reported that one hospital alone had received more than 50 injured people, while local media said several passengers aboard a high-speed train also suffered injuries during the earthquake. Overall, at least 50 people were being treated in hospitals as authorities continued to assess the full scale of the disaster.The powerful quake also damaged parts of Kumamoto Castle, one of the region's best-known landmarks. Officials said sections of the castle's historic stone walls had collapsed during the tremor. ROADS, TRANSPORT NETWORKS SUFFER MAJOR DAMAGEThe earthquake severely disrupted transport infrastructure across Kumamoto and neighbouring areas. Several videos circulating on social media platforms showed large cracks running through major roads, including sections of an elevated highway. Several bridges also sustained visible damage, while a goods train derailed during the quake.Rail operator JR Kyushu suspended train services, including high-speed Shinkansen bullet trains, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Kumamoto Airport temporarily shut its runway, forcing airlines to cancel or divert flights.Telecommunications were also affected. Mobile operators KDDI and Docomo reported disruptions caused by power failures and damaged transmission lines.Electricity supplier Kyushu Electric Power said tens of thousands of households lost power after the earthquake, affecting communities already struggling with damaged infrastructure.Aerial footage from Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture showed the scale of destruction after a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan. Buildings were seen on fire, trains were overturned and a shopping mall suffered major damage as emergency teams rushed to control pic.twitter.com/OI1Ji9pl8j— India Today Global (@ITGGlobal) July 28, 2026MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS DISRUPTEDSeveral major manufacturers temporarily suspended operations as a safety precaution. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, evacuated workers from its facility in the affected region shortly after the earthquake struck.Sony and Fujifilm also evacuated employees from nearby plants while conducting safety inspections before resuming operations. An aerial view shows a collapsed section of a bridge after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture. (Photo: Reuters) The Japan Meteorological Agency warned residents that the danger was far from over. Officials said the earthquake's shallow depth increased the likelihood of strong aftershocks and urged people in heavily affected areas to remain alert for about a week. They also warned that landslides could occur in mountainous regions weakened by the quake.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said officials were still gathering information on the extent of the destruction."We have already been informed that people have been injured. Power outages and fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings," Takaichi said."I ask everyone to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to a safe location."Around 3,600 soldiers were deployed to support rescue operations.Tuesday's earthquake revived painful memories of the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes in 2016, which killed 275 people, injured more than 2,700 and caused extensive destruction across the prefecture.Japan sits along the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire" and experiences some of the world's highest levels of earthquake activity. The country records around 1,500 earthquakes every year and accounts for roughly 20% of earthquakes worldwide measuring magnitude 6.0 or higher.- EndsWith inputs from agenciesPublished By: Satyam SinghPublished On: Jul 28, 2026 18:09 IST