Death Toll Rises to 30 Following 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake in Southern Japan

According to reports from Khaosod Online, citing AP and BBC, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kashima City in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 28, 2026. As of July 30, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that the death toll has reached 30, with 63 people injured, five of whom remain in critical condition.

Rescue operations are currently underway at the site of a collapsed Aeon Mall in Kashima. Akio Yoshida, president of Aeon, confirmed four fatalities at the mall, with three individuals still reported missing. Additionally, a Vietnamese intern was killed at a factory in Yatsushiro after a crane collapsed, marking the first reported foreign casualty of the disaster. Seven other Vietnamese interns at the same facility were safely evacuated. Further fatalities have been reported following the collapse of a chimney at a Nippon Paper Industries plant in Yatsushiro.

For travelers and residents in the region, the situation remains volatile due to ongoing search and rescue efforts and potential structural instability. Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage. Those in the area are advised to monitor local news for updates on infrastructure safety and emergency instructions. The exact number of missing persons remains unconfirmed as rescue teams continue to clear debris.