Major earthquake strikes Kumamoto prefecture in Japan

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 16:27 local time. The disaster caused significant destruction to infrastructure, including collapsed buildings, damaged roads, bridges, and a derailment of a goods train. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that emergency response efforts are underway, with at least 13 fatalities reported and rescue teams, including military personnel, searching for survivors trapped in the rubble of a shopping mall that suffered a suspected gas explosion. More than 150,000 residents were initially advised to relocate to evacuation centers.

Industrial operations were impacted as TSMC and Sony evacuated their local plants as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported 61 aftershocks following the initial tremor, while a brief tsunami warning was issued and subsequently lifted. Historical landmarks such as Kumamoto Castle also sustained damage. As of Wednesday, authorities continue to investigate the cause of the shopping center explosion, while rescuers work against time to locate unaccounted individuals. The government has mobilized all available resources to manage the crisis and assist the injured.