A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kyushu at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT), leaving many people trapped inside a shopping centre in Kumamoto after part of the building reportedly collapsed. BBC Verify has reviewed images that support witness accounts of a second-floor collapse. Japanese reports say 20 to 30 shopping-centre staff may be missing, while a separate chimney collapse at a paper factory has left others unaccounted for. Rescue teams are on site as authorities verify casualties and damage.
Magnitude 7.1 Quake Strikes Kyushu — Dozens Trapped in Kumamoto Mall, Others Missing After Factory Chimney Collapse
People trapped in Japanese mall hit by earthquake, with others missing after factory chimney collapse
Many people are trapped inside a shopping centre in Kumamoto after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kyushu island on Saturday afternoon, local time, emergency services say.
What Happened
The quake hit inland on Kyushu at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT). The fire service reports that a large number of people remain trapped in a shopping centre in Kumamoto city. One witness said the mall's second floor appeared to have collapsed, and BBC Verify has examined images from the scene that support that account.
Additional Damage and Missing People
Japanese media have reported that 20 to 30 shopping-centre staff may be unaccounted for, though this figure has not been independently confirmed. Elsewhere in Kumamoto Prefecture, people are reported missing after a chimney collapsed at a paper factory.
Infrastructure Impact
The quake caused widespread disruption, including power cuts, damaged roads, a collapsed castle wall and a destroyed footbridge. Emergency services and rescue teams remain on site at multiple locations, working to free trapped people and verify casualty and damage reports.
"The second floor looked like it had fallen in," a witness told reporters. BBC Verify has reviewed imagery consistent with those observations.
Response
Local authorities are coordinating search and rescue operations and assessing structural damage. Residents have been advised to follow official guidance, avoid damaged areas and conserve power where possible as crews restore services.
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