Tokyo, July 29 (V7N)- The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southern Japan has risen to 13, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed on Wednesday.
According to AP News, Prime Minister Takaichi said rescue teams carried out overnight operations to locate those still missing, adding that search and rescue efforts remain underway.
He said many more people were injured in the disaster, while several others are still unaccounted for.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Kumamoto region on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon. The quake caused widespread damage, including the partial collapse of a shopping center, which authorities believe may have been triggered by a gas leak. A large chimney at a paper factory also collapsed.
Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said several people were trapped after the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kashima City caved in. At the Yatsushiro factory of Nippon Paper Industries, a collapsed chimney also left people trapped beneath the debris, according to local emergency rescue officials.
Authorities have advised more than 260,000 residents to evacuate, with most evacuation notices issued in Kumamoto Prefecture. Evacuation orders were also extended to neighboring Nagasaki Prefecture.
The earthquake struck approximately 900 kilometers southwest of the Japanese capital, Tokyo, prompting a large-scale emergency response as rescue teams continue searching for survivors.
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