A magnitude 7.1 earthquake shakes part of southern Japan but no tsunami detected - AP News

A 7.1 magnitude quake hits Japan’s southern Kyushu island killing at least 3

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday there had been reports of a number of injuries and damages to roads, bridges and buildings, as well as blackouts and fires following an earthquake that shook Kumamoto on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu.

An earthquake registering a magnitude of 7.1 shook Kumamoto on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu late Tuesday afternoon, causing damage and injuries, officials said. A tsunami advisory was temporarily issued but was lifted within two hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

One of Japan’s most renowned castles was damaged on Tuesday when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook the southern main island of Kyushu. Amateur video showed part of the stone wall of Kumamoto Castle collapsing, sending up clouds of dust.

This aerial image shows the damaged AEON Mall following an earthquake in Kashima, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)

This aerial image shows a partially collapsed bridge after the earthquake in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)

A part of the stone wall of the Kumamoto Castle is seen damaged after an earthquake in Kumamoto in the Kyushu island, southern Japan, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)

A store sign of a restaurant is seen fallen on the ground after an earthquake in Kumamoto in the Kyushu island, southern Japan, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)

TOKYO (AP) — A 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Japan ’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday, leaving several people dead and dozens of others injured or missing after part of a shopping center and a huge chimney at a paper factory collapsed, officials said. A tsunami advisory was issued but quickly lifted.

At least three people, including two who were found without vital signs at the mall late Tuesday, were confirmed dead, and about 30 others were injured across the Kagoshima prefecture, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Wednesday.

In Kashima Town, the quake collapsed the second floor of the Aeon Mall shopping center, trapping an unknown number of people there, according to the fire department in the prefectural capital of Kumamoto. Japan’s NHK national television said the collapse came after an explosion, believed to have been triggered by a gas leak at the building.

Four people were pulled out with injuries and taken to a hospital, while 10 others were unaccounted for, the Kumamoto prefectural emergency response team said. It said the extent of the damage was still being investigated as the search and rescue effort continued.