Major Shopping Mall Partially Collapses in Strong Kumamoto Quake, Many Reported Trapped Inside

[Financial News, Tokyo = Seo Hye-jin Correspondent] Japanese media, including NHK, reported that damage is spreading rapidly after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on the 28th. In addition to part of the wall of Kumamoto Castle, a symbol of Kumamoto, collapsing, part of the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping complex reportedly caved in with an explosion-like sound, leaving many customers trapped inside. The Japanese government has deployed the JSDF and begun assessing the damage and carrying out rescue operations.
According to the Kumamoto Castle General Office, multiple reports were received that part of the castle wall collapsed in Kumamoto City, where a seismic intensity of upper 5 was observed, and officials are checking the damage. As of 5 p.m., no casualties at the castle had been reported.
In Uki City, which recorded a seismic intensity of 7, cracks appeared in several places on the floor of the city hall building, and most items on the shelves fell, causing extensive interior damage. At a special nursing home for the elderly in Yatsushiro City, which recorded a seismic intensity of upper 6, all residents and staff were safe, but the water supply was cut off, so they planned to spend the night using stored water.
Additional damage occurred about 1 hour and 30 minutes after the earthquake.
Around 6 p.m., a series of reports said that white smoke rose with an explosion-like sound at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency's disaster response headquarters said it had received information that part of the second floor collapsed, trapping many people inside the building, and that it was verifying the facts. Injuries were also reported, and the injured were taken to hospitals. Police said about 200 people evacuated to the parking lot.
NHK helicopter footage showed that a large section of the exterior wall had fallen away, exposing the steel frame, while part of the roof had collapsed and a large hole had opened on the rooftop. Nearby residents said, "After a loud explosion, dust rose into the air," and "A piece of the building's exterior wall flew off and hit a car driving on the road."
Aeon Mall Kumamoto is a large mixed-use commercial complex with a site area of 224,000 square meters and a total floor area of 120,000 square meters. It houses a supermarket, a movie theater, and hot spring facilities.
The Japanese government also moved into emergency response mode.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at an emergency press conference that "house collapses, fires, and power outages have occurred mainly in Uki City and Hikawa Town, and emergency calls to 110 and 119 are pouring in."
According to the government, as of 5:35 p.m., 48,280 households were without power, mainly in Kumamoto, and gas supply had been cut off to about 500 households. Water outages are believed to be widespread, and communication disruptions have also been confirmed.
Transportation networks are also facing major disruptions. Service on the Kyushu Shinkansen between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo has been suspended, and 17 conventional rail lines have also stopped running. Three expressway routes and 23 sections have been closed, and the runway at Kumamoto Airport has been shut down for safety inspections.
However, the government said the tsunami advisory issued immediately after the quake was lifted at 6:10 p.m., and no abnormalities have been reported so far at nuclear facilities, including the operating Sendai, Genkai, and Ikata plants.
The JSDF, requested by Kumamoto Prefecture for disaster relief, was deployed to the scene from 5:30 p.m., and the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) is on standby and will provide medical and relief support depending on the scale of the damage.
[email protected] Seo Hye-jin Reporter