Japan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 13; Rescue Operations Continue

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck parts of southwestern Japan has risen to 13, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed, adding that rescue teams were continuing their search for missing people on Wednesday morning. The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Kumamoto region on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu late on Tuesday, causing widespread damage and trapping people beneath collapsed structures. Addressing the situation, Prime Minister Takaichi said that several people were still waiting to be rescued, describing the operation as "a race against time." She said the government would use every available resource to locate and rescue as many survivors as possible. The Prime Minister also expressed her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and extended sympathy to those affected by the disaster. She urged residents in the quake-hit areas to take precautions and protect themselves from the hot weather while relief efforts continue. Takaichi said Japan's Self-Defense Forces were assisting emergency responders in search and rescue operations at a heavily damaged shopping mall and were delivering water, food and other essential supplies to affected communities. According to the fire department in Kumamoto's prefectural capital, the second floor of an Aeon Mall in the town of Kashima collapsed during the earthquake, trapping several people inside. Japanese news agency Kyodo News reported that around 40 injured people were admitted to a hospital in Yatsushiro City, while nearly 50 others were taken to a hospital in Kumamoto City for treatment. Meanwhile, Shinji Kiyomoto of the Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks over the next two to three days, warning that additional seismic activity could occur.