Death Toll from Japan's 7.1 Earthquake Rises to 13 as Rescue Operations Continue

The death toll from the powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's southern Kumamoto Prefecture has climbed to 13, as emergency crews continue searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

Rescue teams pulled eight people from the rubble of a partially collapsed shopping mall near Kumamoto City, where an apparent explosion occurred about an hour after the quake. Two of those rescued were women in their 20s who were confirmed dead, while dozens of workers remain unaccounted for.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the rescue mission remains a race against time, with thousands of emergency personnel, police officers and more than 4,500 military personnel deployed across the disaster zone.

Authorities are investigating whether a gas leak triggered the explosion at the damaged shopping mall. Rescue workers reported smelling gas inside the building, but officials said the exact cause is still under investigation.

The earthquake also caused severe damage to roads, homes and public infrastructure. At a paper mill, seven workers remain missing after a chimney collapsed, while several others sustained serious injuries.

More than 260,000 residents have been advised to evacuate, and around 36,000 households remain without electricity amid temperatures expected to reach 34°C, raising concerns over heat-related illnesses.

Several hospitals have been overwhelmed by the influx of injured patients, with some forced to suspend admissions because of power outages and limited capacity.

Major manufacturers, including Sony, Honda and Tokyo Electron, temporarily halted operations at facilities in the affected region, while chipmaker TSMC resumed limited operations after evacuating workers as a precaution.

Officials have warned residents to remain alert for strong aftershocks and possible landslides over the coming week. Japan, located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," experiences some of the world's most frequent and powerful earthquakes.

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