SANTO DOMINGO. – Japan was hit again on Tuesday, July 28, by one of the strongest earthquakes recorded so far in 2026, after a magnitude 7.1 quake shook Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, leaving 50 people injured, considerable damage to infrastructure, and multiple rescue operations underway, while the government remains vigilant for the risk of further aftershocks.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake struck at 4:27 p.m. local time, with an epicenter located approximately 10 kilometers deep, a characteristic that intensified the shaking on the surface. Minutes later, a second earthquake of magnitude 6.1 was recorded, prompting a reinforcement of emergency response efforts in the area.
According to EFE, 50 people were taken to hospitals, while Japanese police continue searching for nine people whose whereabouts remain unknown. The agency also reported the collapse of at least 12 homes, seven fires, and four people trapped in the rubble of damaged buildings.
Shopping mall collapses during earthquake
One of the most critical incidents occurred at a shopping center located in the town of Kashima, where part of the structure collapsed after the earthquake.
According to El Mundo, citing information from Japanese television network TBS and public broadcaster NHK, numerous people were trapped inside the building after the second floor collapsed. Rescue teams are working through the rubble to locate survivors, while authorities have not yet released an official death toll related to the incident.
Images released by Japanese media show walls falling off, ceilings collapsing, and an explosion recorded at the establishment shortly after the earthquake, although the causes are still under investigation.
Thousands of homes without electricity and damage to infrastructure
According to Europa Press, the earthquake initially left some 48,000 homes without electricity, in addition to around 500 homes affected by gas supply disruptions.
For its part, La Vanguardia reported damage to roads, buildings, homes and bridges, as well as the derailment of a freight train in the region, while inspections continue to determine the extent of the damage.
Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara, quoted by Europa Press, said that authorities deployed helicopters from the Police, fire department and Self-Defense Forces to assess the damage caused by the earthquake from the air and coordinate assistance to the affected communities.
Government maintains alert for new aftershocks
Following the earthquake, authorities issued a tsunami warning for parts of the southwest of the country; however, this was withdrawn hours later after no significant changes in sea level were reported.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichiurged the public to remain vigilant for the possibility of further earthquakes of similar magnitude and confirmed that the government continues to assess the damage caused by the emergency, according to Europa Press and EFE.
Authorities also ruled out incidents at the Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima and the Genkai plant in Saga, following inspections by the Kyushu Electric Company.
Search, rescue and damage assessment efforts continue this Tuesday, while authorities maintain active emergency protocols in case of further aftershocks and ask the population to follow civil protection recommendations.
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