The powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan and killed at least 13 people and injured dozens of others.
A blast ripped apart a shopping mall in one shocking image and thick black smoke billowed into the sky as terror-stricken people rushed to safety.
Video clips posted on social media show the scary aftermath of the earthquake. In one video you can see the shopping mall badly damaged, and a blast rocks the building and the residents and emergency workers panic. Other videos show collapsed buildings, damaged roads, overturned vehicles and huge fires in the affected area.
The earthquake hit very hard and damaged houses, commercial buildings and public infrastructure; authorities said the earthquake struck so strong that even the very houses were destroyed. Emergency sirens went off in the cities where rescue teams were looking for survivors under the rubble and people were fleeing from the homes and businesses.
Japan’s advanced earthquake warning systems warned people just seconds before the strongest shaking started, so many sought shelter. Although the nation’s building and disaster preparedness is high, the magnitude of the earthquake caused widespread destruction in some neighborhoods.
The explosion at the shopping mall could have been triggered by broken gas lines or electrical systems, officials said.
Hospitals in the region are still on high alert with victims in the area still coming to the hospitals for treatment. Emergency workers, police officers and military personnel are now on the scene helping the evacuation effort and clearing debris, and restoring basic services.
The death toll (July 28) magnitude 7.1 quake in Kumamoto, Japan, has risen to 13, with at least another 30 missing. pic.twitter.com/hDX7dGRgue
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) July 29, 2026
Power outages have affected thousands of households and transportation networks have been affected too. Roads have been cracked open, trains have been temporarily halted and airports have been delayed as safety inspections are conducted.
Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake prone countries because of its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Even major earthquakes of this magnitude can be devastating even with the best engineering and emergency response systems.
Since videos of the event have been posted online, the earthquake is yet another reminder of nature’s power and the need to be prepared for disaster.
Rescue efforts are still ongoing and officials are expected to provide updated casualty figures and damage assessments as recovery continues.
