A powerful earthquake was seen striking a popular tourist destination today.
The earthquake was recorded as 7.1, and an immediate tsunami advisory was soon issued right after that.
The exact location was identified as Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu and that caused widespread damage across Kumamoto Prefecture and triggered an emergency response operation.
Shortly after the initial tremor, an explosion rocked the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town; it tore away part of the structure and collapsed the second floor. Several deaths were confirmed, with an estimated 20 to 30 workers unaccounted for as emergency crews search through the debris.
Infrastructure damage included a derailed train in Yatsushiro with crumbled stone walls at a historic Kumamoto Castle location. There were also visible highway cracks and power outages affecting nearly 40,000 homes. At least 40 people were rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries.
Japanese authorities advised nearly 300k residents to head to evacuation centers due to strong aftershocks.