Japan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 13 as Rescue Efforts Continue

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southern Japan has risen to 13, with many people still believed to be trapped under collapsed buildings, according to Japanese authorities. Rescue teams have deployed about 3,600 Self-Defense Force personnel as emergency operations continue. More than 36,000 households remain without electricity.

According to CNN, the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture. Officials said they are still determining whether all reported deaths were directly caused by the earthquake or subsequent aftershocks.

The prime minister expressed condolences to the victims' families and stressed that rescue efforts remain a race against time.

Military personnel are working alongside local police and fire departments to search for survivors, assess damage, and deliver emergency assistance.

Public broadcaster NHK reported that the government is preparing an emergency meeting to assess the disaster and coordinate additional response measures.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported that 9,872 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters across Kumamoto Prefecture, while approximately 36,700 households continue to experience power outages.

Rescue operations are underway at a shopping mall where multiple people are feared trapped after part of the building collapsed. Several workers also remain missing after a factory chimney collapsed during the quake.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where roughly 18% of the world's earthquakes occur. The country continues to maintain one of the world's most advanced earthquake preparedness and disaster response systems following the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.