Japan earthquake death toll rises to 18 as rescue efforts continue

Rescue teams continued an intense search operation on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) through the debris of a heavily damaged shopping mall and collapsed homes in southwestern Japan after a powerful earthquake claimed at least 18 lives.

According to The Hindu, soldiers and emergency workers were racing against time to locate survivors who might still be trapped beneath the rubble.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu a day earlier, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

As reported by The Hindu, the quake also injured at least 62 people, including six who remain in serious condition, according to the prefectural government. The death toll has continued to rise, raising concerns that the number of casualties may increase further.

The scorching summer heat has added to the challenges faced by rescue personnel, while also increasing concerns for anyone still trapped beneath collapsed structures. According to The Hindu, authorities have yet to determine how many people remain unaccounted for.

One of the worst-hit locations was the Aeon Mall shopping centre in Kashima city, where thousands of shoppers were present when the earthquake struck.

The company said approximately 3,000 customers were safely evacuated to a parking area before a gas explosion occurred in another section of the mall, where several employees were still working.

The explosion caused the mall's second floor to collapse, trapping multiple people beneath the debris. Witnesses reported that the blast shook the surrounding area with an intensity comparable to the earthquake itself.

According to Aeon, three people remain missing, while four deaths have been confirmed at the shopping mall.

“We take it seriously that an explosion happened and precious lives were lost,” Aeon President Akio Yoshida told a news conference in Kumamoto, where he bowed deeply along with two other executives.

Television footage aired by Japanese media showed sections of the shopping mall with collapsed ceilings, twisted metal structures, and debris scattered across the site as rescue workers wearing helmets and protective masks searched for survivors. The Hindu reported that emergency teams continued working tirelessly despite the difficult conditions.

In nearby Yatsushino, another tragedy unfolded after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries factory, killing five people. Seven others were rescued from the rubble, according to the Kumamoto prefectural government disaster response team.

Officials said four more people were still believed to be trapped at the factory site.

According to The Hindu, nearly 34,900 households remained without electricity, while approximately 15,000 homes were still without running water. More than 8,800 residents sought refuge in over 400 evacuation centres, where additional power sources were being installed to provide air conditioning amid the intense summer heat.

Aerial footage released by police showed entire homes flattened in residential neighbourhoods, with several buildings collapsing into a nearby river due to the force of the earthquake.

Japan's Self-Defence Forces have joined local rescue agencies in the ongoing search and rescue operations. Hundreds of emergency personnel have been deployed, including firefighters from Taiwan, to assist with relief efforts.

“There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. “We will go all out to find and rescue as many people as we can.”

According to The Hindu, Prime Minister Takaichi also said the central government was preparing to send food, water, and other essential supplies to the worst-affected areas.

She expressed her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and urged survivors to take precautions against the extreme heat while staying in evacuation centres.

Transportation services also continued to face disruptions. Bullet train operations remained suspended, while Aso Kumamoto Airport resumed services on Wednesday (July 29, 2026). However, several airlines cancelled flights as a precautionary measure.

As noted by The Hindu, Kumamoto had previously experienced a devastating earthquake in 2016 that claimed at least 50 lives. Japan remains one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, making disaster preparedness and emergency response a constant national priority.