At least 13 people have died after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed on Wednesday, as rescue teams continued searching for people trapped inside damaged buildings. The quake caused widespread destruction across parts of the region, triggering building collapses, industrial accidents and a suspected gas explosion at a shopping mall in Kashima, complicating rescue efforts. Authorities warned that the casualty toll could rise as emergency responders worked through the rubble.

One of the worst-hit sites was a shopping mall in the town of Kashima, where a suspected gas explosion severely damaged the building after customers and employees had been evacuated. According to Kyodo News, citing a government source, the blast collapsed ceilings and walls, leaving sections of the structure gutted. A spokesperson for the mall's operator, Aeon, told AFP that the explosion occurred only after everyone inside had been evacuated, potentially preventing a higher death toll. Eight people were rescued from the mall, including five who sustained injuries.

Early reports suggested that between 20 and 30 people may have been trapped inside the mall following the explosion. However, public broadcaster NHK later cited police as saying the actual number was likely lower. Officials said the precise number of people still inside remains unclear, although it is confirmed that several staff members are trapped. Police added that rescue teams have so far been unable to enter the building because no safe access route has been established, highlighting the challenges posed by the severely weakened structure.

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Elsewhere, the earthquake caused significant damage to industrial facilities. At the Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, a smokestack partially collapsed during the tremor, leaving nine people unaccounted for, according to the local government. Emergency services were continuing search and rescue operations at the site while engineers assessed the stability of the damaged infrastructure. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether those missing were trapped beneath debris or had been able to evacuate before communications were lost.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake also disrupted transport, utilities and emergency services across affected areas, prompting authorities to deploy disaster response teams and conduct structural inspections of buildings. Japan, one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, maintains strict seismic building standards and regularly conducts disaster preparedness exercises. Nevertheless, powerful earthquakes continue to pose significant risks, particularly when they trigger secondary incidents such as fires, gas leaks and industrial accidents.

Rescue efforts remained ongoing on Wednesday as authorities worked to locate those still missing and assess the full extent of the damage. Prime Minister Takaichi said the government's priority was supporting emergency operations and ensuring assistance reached affected communities as quickly as possible. Officials urged residents to remain alert for aftershocks and to follow evacuation and safety instructions while emergency crews continued their operations across the disaster-hit region.

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