An earthquake of 7.1 magnitude battered buildings and a shopping centre in south-western Japan, leaving several people feared dead and trapped in a mall in Kumamoto on Tuesday afternoon, reports stated, quoting emergency services.
Damage to historical Kumamoto Castle
Due to the impact of the earthquake, one of Japan’s oldest castles, Kumamoto Castle, was damaged, as videos on social media appeared to show part of the outer walls decimated and surrounded by a cloud of dust.
【地震】熊本 イオンモール熊本で爆発https://t.co/cc3ru0syKJ pic.twitter.com/aI4j4ELEv5
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) July 28, 2026
Kumamoto Castle, partially damaged in the earthquake, was constructed in 1607 by Kato Kiyomasa, the first daimyo (feudal lord) of the castle, as per the castle’s website. It is a major tourist destination in the Japanese city.
This aerial image shows the damaged AEON Mall after an earthquake in Kashima, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan. (AP)
The castle was shut for the day; an X account for it informed but didn’t provide any information related to potential damage to the castle.
熊本 宇城市と氷川町で震度7 被害相次ぐhttps://t.co/fAoIlTGbTd pic.twitter.com/XUUqaauCBg
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) July 28, 2026
Reports of overturned Train, fires, and structural collapses
Separately, a video showed a freight engine overturned and rolled off the railway tracks, though it wasn’t clear if it was caused by the earthquake. Other videos showed collapsed towers at an industrial plant and a small building on fire, NBC News reported.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 16km and hit the country’s Kumamoto prefecture at 4.27 pm local time.
Collapse and rescue efforts at Aeon Mall
According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the second floor of Aeon Mall shopping centre in Kashima Town collapsed, with several people feared dead. The report added that at least 20 to 30 employees working at the mall could not be contacted after the collapse.
A few minutes ago: The stone walls of Kumamoto Castle collapsed following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake (地震 ) that struck 4 km southeast of Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. pic.twitter.com/PwXwldRmIr
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) July 28, 2026
Videos showed the collapsed shopping mall in Kumamoto, as Kyodo News agency reported, quoting local police that several other people were dug out from the site and taken to hospital.
Prime Minister addresses extent of damage
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said there were reports of damage to roads, bridges and buildings, as well as blackouts and fires, however, details were unclear, AP reported.
