This photo taken on July 29, 2026 shows the damaged AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
TOKYO, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations.
More than 20 hours have passed since the earthquake, but there are still people waiting to be rescued, she added.
Takaichi said about 450 evacuation centers had been opened and around 7,700 people were taking shelter, while hot weather is expected to continue and evacuations are likely to be prolonged.
She said the Self-Defense Forces had further expanded their deployment, with approximately 4,600 personnel now engaged in disaster response, while police strength had increased to about 2,000 officers.
Takaichi said earlier Wednesday that the government has confirmed 13 people died after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto at 4:27 p.m. local time Tuesday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a morning press conference that apart from 13 fatalities, including deaths still under investigation for possible links to the tremor, authorities had also received reports of seven people seriously injured and 29 others with minor injuries. ■
This photo taken on July 29, 2026 shows the damaged AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Technicians repair power facilities near the damaged AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 29, 2026.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
This photo taken on July 29, 2026 shows the damaged AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
A technician repairs power facilities near the damaged AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 29, 2026.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Technicians repair power facilities near the damaged AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 29, 2026.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
This photo taken on July 29, 2026 shows a damaged vehicle near the AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Firefighters work outside the damaged AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 29, 2026.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
This photo taken on July 29, 2026 shows a damaged truck near the AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Firefighters work outside the damaged AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 29, 2026.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that three people have been confirmed dead after an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto following a powerful earthquake.
Speaking at a meeting of the government's emergency disaster response headquarters, Takaichi said that at AEON Mall Kumamoto, a major shopping complex in Kashima Town, many others remained trapped inside.
Takaichi also said multiple people were still missing after the collapse of a smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, with intensive rescue operations continuing at both locations. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)