TOKYO, July 28. /TASS/. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the southern island of Kyushu has caused fires, damage to roads and bridges, the collapse of buildings, and power outages, said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
NHK broadcaster said that more than 50 people were injured, while others may have been trapped under the rubble of the Aeon shopping center in the city of Kashima, where an explosion occurred after the earthquake.
TASS has compiled the key facts about the quake's consequences.
The magnitude
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit the Kumamoto Prefecture area of the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, the National Meteorological Agency said.
- After it, a one meter tsunami threat was announced for the coast of the Ariake and Yatsushiro bays.
- At the moment, it has been cancelled.
Effects
- The earthquake caused fires and power outages, damaged roads and bridges, destroyed buildings, according to Takaichi.
- An ancient feudal castle in the city of Kumamoto may have been damaged, according to local media reports.
- In live footage from the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, clouds of dust could be seen rising near the castle.
- The castle's administration has not yet reported any damage, but has warned of the closure of the park area.
- The Sendai and Genkai nuclear power plants in the island are operating normally after the earthquake, according to Kyushu Electric Power, the operator of the plants.
- This includes the first and second units of the Sendai plant and the fourth reactor of the Genkai plant, which are currently operational.
- According to Kyushu Electric Power, approximately 48,000 households were left without power.
- An explosion is believed to have ripped through the Aeon shopping mall in the city of Kashima (Kumamoto Prefecture) after the earthquake, according to NHK TV channel.
- Footage captured by the channel's helicopter shows that the building has sustained significant damage.
- One of the walls has partially collapsed, exposing the building's metal frame.
- The roof was damaged.
- The shopping mall features a supermarket, clothing stores, restaurants, and a movie theater.
- The shopping center's parking lot can accommodate up to 5,000 cars.
- It is unclear whether the incident is related to the earthquake.
- According to NHK, the shopping center was open on Tuesday.
- At least 200 people were evacuated to the parking lot.
- According to NHK, there may be people trapped under the debris.
Victims
- There are victims of the earthquake, according to Takaiti.
- According to her, the data on the victims is still being clarified.
- More than 50 people were injured and were hospitalized, according to NHK TV channel, citing data from the Yatsushiro Medical Center in the city of Hikawa (Kumamoto Prefecture).
The situation with Russians
- There were no reports from Russians after the earthquake, a Russian embassy official told TASS.
- Russians in Japan have not contacted tour operators in connection with the earthquake, according to the Russian Union of Travel Industry.
- There is no information about any victims.
Possible impact
- The consequences of the earthquake will not affect the Primorsky Region, according to the local weather service.
- It is noted that the coast of the region is protected by its geographical location from the east - the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands, and from the south - the Japanese Archipelago and the Korean Peninsula.
- The seismic event occurred in the Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of Japan, which eliminates the threat to the Russian region, a service official said.
- The earthquake does not threaten the US state of Hawaii, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of the US National Weather Service (PTWS).
- According to the weather service's estimates, there is currently a tsunami threat for the parts of the Pacific Ocean that are closer to the earthquake's epicenter.