日本九州岛熊本县于7月28日下午发生强烈地震[1][4]。地震震级在6.8至7.1级之间[2][5][9][19]，造成至少13人死亡[7][8][9][11][12]，多人失踪或被困[1][2]。日本首相高市早苗表示"现在还有人等待被救援，这是一场与时间的赛跑"[15]，并表示将调集所有可用资源进行救援[12][15]。
地震引发广泛的基础设施破坏。约4.5万户家庭和设施临时停电[1][4][9]，约30万人被疏散至避难中心[2][9][15]。建筑物严重受损，包括刚于6月重新开业的Aeon购物中心在地震后约一小时发生爆炸[16]，导致购物中心二层坍塌，至少10人在该购物中心失踪[5][16]。历史悠久的熊本城17世纪石墙部分坍塌[5][14]，八代市一座纸浆厂烟囱倒塌导致7人失踪、4人重伤[7][9]。地震还引发停电、火灾和道路桥梁受损等灾情[1][3][4]。
至少50人因伤被送往医院治疗[1][4][8]。地震已引发60余次余震[5][9]。日本气象厅警告该地区未来一周仍存在强震和滑坡风险[2][9]。日本自卫队部署3600至4600名人员参与救援行动[7][9][15]。日本核监管局确认附近三座核电站未检测到异常[1][4][11][12]，日本气象厅已解除海啸警报[1][4][11]。
与2016年熊本地震造成273至278人死亡相比[1][2][4][9][11]，此次地震的最终伤亡数字仍可能继续上升[17]。
A major earthquake with a magnitude between 6.8 and 7.1 struck Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon, July 28, centered in Kumamoto Prefecture.[1][2][4][7][8] The tremor caused widespread destruction across the region, with rescue teams racing against time to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
At least 13 people have been confirmed dead, with multiple others reported missing.[7][8][11][12] Among the hardest-hit locations was an Aeon shopping mall in the area, where the second floor collapsed, trapping numerous people inside.[5][7][16] An explosion erupted at the shopping center approximately one hour after the initial quake, which officials suspect may have been caused by a natural gas leak.[16] Ten people remain missing at the Aeon mall, while at a pulp factory in nearby Yatsushiro, nine workers are unaccounted for.[5] At least 90 people have been hospitalized with injuries.[8]
The earthquake triggered extensive infrastructure damage across Kumamoto Prefecture.[1][4][8] Approximately 45,000 households and facilities experienced temporary power outages.[1][4][9][15] Twelve homes collapsed entirely, and four people were trapped in the rubble.[4] The historic Kumamoto Castle, a 17th-century landmark, sustained damage when portions of its stone walls crumbled.[5][14] Additionally, a smokestack at a paper mill in the prefecture collapsed.[5][10] The disaster prompted the evacuation of more than 9,000 people to 506 shelters across five prefectures.[15]
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the situation as "a race against time," stating: "There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it's a race against time."[8][15] The government deployed 3,600 self-defense forces and mobilized 20 aircraft to aid in rescue and recovery operations.[7][9] Three nuclear power plants near the epicenter were inspected and found to have no abnormalities.[1][4][11][15] Tsunami warnings were issued but subsequently lifted.[1][4][11]
The region has been battered by over 60 aftershocks since the initial tremor, with magnitudes ranging from 1 to 4 on the Richter scale.[2][5][9] Japanese meteorological authorities have warned that strong earthquakes and landslides remain a risk in the area for the coming week.[2][9] The earthquake occurred approximately 900 kilometers (540 miles) east of Tokyo.[8]
This disaster echoes the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which killed between 273 and 278 people and left more than 2,700 injured.[1][4][8][9][15][18]