A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Japanese city of Kumamoto on Tuesday, leaving several people trapped inside a shopping mall that was partially destroyed by the explosion, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
It was unclear how many people were trapped inside when the second floor of the building collapsed, NHK reported, citing fire officials. About 50 people were injured in the explosion, NHK reported.
An earthquake struck the city of Kumamoto, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) east of Nagasaki in southern Japan, on Tuesday afternoon local time, buckling a highway bridge and collapsing at least one other building.
Local police initially estimated nine people were missing, but Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters that the number of casualties and extent of damage were unknown and the investigation was still ongoing, Reuters reported.
“We have already received information that there were injuries,” Takaichi said. “Some areas are experiencing power outages and fires, as well as damage to roads and bridges and collapsed buildings.”
Semiconductor maker TSMC evacuated employees from its factories in the area as a precautionary measure, a company spokesperson told Reuters.
The Kumamoto earthquake ten years ago killed 275 people and injured another 2,739.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
