At a glance
A major 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan, killing at least 18 people and trapping survivors in a collapsed shopping mall. Rescue efforts are racing against time.
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan, killing at least 18 people. The quake collapsed a shopping mall and trapped survivors inside, with rescue teams racing to reach them. The death toll will likely rise as rescuers continue searching through rubble.
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes and has invested heavily in seismic preparedness, but a 7.1 magnitude quake is powerful enough to cause serious damage even in a prepared country. The collapse of a shopping mall—a structure that should be engineered to withstand seismic activity—suggests either the quake's force exceeded expected design parameters or the building failed inspection standards. Rescue efforts in the immediate hours after a collapse are time-critical, as survival rates drop sharply after the first 24-48 hours.
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