Powerful Earthquake Destroys Mall in Southern Japan, Leaving at Least 13 Dead A magnitude 7.1 earthquake devastated Japan's Kyushu island, collapsing a shopping mall and triggering a deadly explosion. Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities warn of strong aftershocks and landslides. A catastrophic 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction and leaving at least 13 people dead. The tremor, centered about 12 miles south of Kumamoto City, triggered a catastrophic explosion at the Aeon shopping mall in Kashima Town, where the second floor collapsed in on itself. Dashcam footage captured the moment of the blast, showing debris flying through the air as a massive cloud of dust and smoke billowed into the street. Authorities are investigating whether the explosion was caused by a gas leak, though the exact cause remains unclear. Eight people were pulled from the rubble of the partially collapsed mall, but three of them perished. As of Wednesday, rescuers were still searching for survivors, with four mall workers remaining unaccounted for.Emergency responders, including over 4,500 soldiers, rushed to the scene to assist with recovery efforts. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi declared the situation a 'race against time,' vowing to mobilize all available resources to save as many people as possible.Meanwhile, seven people are missing after a chimney collapsed at a Nippon Paper Industries plant, and four others suffered serious injuries. Hospitals across the region are treating dozens of patients, with some facilities running on limited capacity due to power outages. More than 260,000 residents were instructed to evacuate to emergency shelters as authorities warned of potential aftershocks and landslides. In Yatsushiro city, one of the hardest-hit areas, many homes suffered roof damage, while roads sustained significant cracks and buckles.A portion of a bridge had also collapsed into the Kumagawa River, drawing onlookers. Temperatures soared to around 34 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, prompting warnings about the risk of heat stroke for displaced residents. With around 36,000 homes still without power, authorities encouraged citizens to remain vigilant for further tremors, which could persist for up to a week. High-speed trains were temporarily suspended amidst the chaos, and some passengers sustained injuries during the quake.As rescue operations continued, the full extent of the damage became increasingly apparent, with damaged infrastructure and disrupted services posing ongoing challenges for the region