More than 100 aftershocks hit Japan after deadly quake that killed 13

More than 100 aftershocks have shaken Japan's southwestern Kyushu region following a deadly magnitude 6.8 earthquake on Tuesday that left at least 13 people dead. Many others were reported to be in “cardiopulmonary arrest,” a term often used in preliminary Japanese reports before a death is officially confirmed. Amid searing heat, rescue crews are digging through rubble at a paper mill and a shopping promenade in Kumamoto prefecture, searching for trapped survivors. The promenade suffered an explosion in the hour after the quake struck. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that the situation is “truly a race against time” to rescue those trapped. Thousands remain in evacuation centres, and many are without power. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is urging residents to stay alert for stronger earthquakes, according to national broadcaster NHK. A JMA official said, “For the next week or so, particularly the next 2 to 3 days, we would like people to watch out for possible earthquakes with a maximum seismic strength of 7.” Rescuers continue to search the debris of Aeon Mall in Kashima town, where a section of the second floor collapsed. Footage of the shopping centre shows black smoke rising from the building as people fled into the car park. Large parts of the mall’s exterior were blown off, exposing steel beams underneath. Aeon Mall president Akio Yoshida confirmed that three people were killed in the mall explosion and that another three, each of whom worked at the mall, remain unaccounted for. Officials said roughly 2,700 people were employed at the mall. Yoshida added that four people were taken to hospital from the site, including one person rescued from a restroom and another who was in cardiopulmonary arrest. “We sincerely apologise for this incident,” Yoshida said at a press conference on Wednesday. Other affected areas include a paper mill in Yatsushiro City, where two people were recovered with no signs of life and nine others remain unaccounted for, NHK reported. “Although more than 20 hours have passed since the earthquake, there are those still in need of help,” Takaichi said on Wednesday. More than 4,600 personnel have been deployed to assist with rescue efforts, she added. Officials advised rescuers and quake survivors to take precautions against heatstroke during clean‑up operations, as temperatures have reached around 35C (95F). Defence Minister Shinjirō Koizumi said in a post on X that about 300 air‑conditioning units will be flown to Kumamoto and distributed in the worst‑hit areas. The JMA measured the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.1, while the US Geological Survey later placed it at 6.8. Quake magnitude figures are often updated as seismologists obtain and analyse new data. The quake’s shallow epicentre—with a depth of 10 km (six miles)—was located about 20km south of Kumamoto city. Footage aired by NHK showed cracked roads and bridges, several buildings on fire, suspended train services and power cut off for thousands of homes. Residents of Kumamoto prefecture awoke on Wednesday to the aftermath of the quake, with images depicting debris on the streets and collapsed structures, including the worship hall of the 19th