Explosion reported at Japan shopping mall after powerful earthquake
Several people were reported trapped inside a shopping center in Japan after an explosion occurred following a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the country’s southwest on Tuesday, according to local authorities and media reports.
Local media said the explosion occurred at an Aeon Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture shortly after the earthquake struck Kyushu Island at 4:27 p.m. local time. Emergency services said “many people” were trapped inside the shopping complex.
Fire officials also reported that the second floor of a shopping complex in the town of Kashima collapsed, leaving multiple people trapped beneath the debris as rescue operations got underway.
The earthquake prompted officials to order about 300,000 residents to evacuate to shelters. A tsunami warning was briefly issued but was lifted less than an hour later. Authorities continue to assess the damage and search for those trapped.
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