Hope dwindles for rescue after southwestern Japan earthquake as death toll climbs to 25

Rescue workers conduct a search operation at the damaged Aeon Mall shopping center after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto Prefecture, in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 30, 2026. Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — Residents in southwestern Japan camped in classrooms and vehicles Thursday, stocked up on water and tried to get back to normal, two days after a powerful quake set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney and flattened homes in a disaster that killed at least 25 people. Time was running out to find survivors, as rescuers continued to work in the Kumamoto area on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu, where the magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Tuesday. The number of people missing was unclear. Of the deaths given in the latest tally, 25 have been confirmed as related to the disaster, but there were nine more deaths under investigation as likely to be connected, the Kumamoto prefectural government said.

Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open PBS ↗