In pictures: Buildings damaged after powerful earthquake hits south-west Japan

An aerial view shows a collapsed chimney at Nippon Paper Industries' Yatsushiro Mill after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 28, 2026Reuters

The powerful earthquake caused the collapse of a chimney at Nippon Paper Industries' Yatsushiro Mill

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck south-west Japan on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people, and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate.

The quake hit Kyushu island at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT) and after shocks have continued to rumble.

At a large and popular shopping mall in the Kumamoto prefecture, the second floor collapsed, trapping people inside the centre, while a chimney fell at a paper factory.

Footage aired by national broadcaster NHK showed cracked roads and bridges and several buildings on fire.

Japan, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. It experiences about 1,500 quakes a year.

The exterior wall of a restaurant collapsed following the earthquake in Kumamoto City, southwestern JapanEPA

The earthquake struck inland in Kumamoto prefecture

An aerial view shows the damaged Aeon Mall shopping centre after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture. Reuters

The fire department said that people were trapped in the Aeon Mall, with local media reporting there was also an explosion

An aerial view shows the damaged Aeon Mall shopping centre after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture.Reuters
Rescue workers conduct a search and rescue operation at the damaged Aeon Mall shopping centre, where, according to local media, an explosion occurred after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 28, 2026.Reuters
Part of a bridge collapsed into the waterReuters

In the city of Yatsushiro, part of a traffic bridge collapsed into a river

An aerial view shows the damaged Kyushu Expressway after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture, July 28, 2026Reuters

Damage was caused to the Kyushu Expressway

A damaged fallen signboard outside a Saizeriya restaurant after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture.Reuters

Businesses and homes across Kumamoto prefecture have been damaged

An aerial view shows a residential building on fire after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, July 28, 2026.Reuters
People sitting on astroturf, mostly playing on their phones.EPA/ shutterstock

After the initial earthquake, people gathered in open spaces in case there was another strong shake

A stone wall at Kumamoto Castle collapsed following the earthquake in Kumamoto City, southwestern Japan, 28 July 2026. EPA

Kumamoto Castle, which was reconstructed in 1960, has been damaged for the second time - it was also damaged by a strong earthquake in 2016

People walk near the stone walls of Kumamoto Castle, which collapsed following a powerful earthquake in Kumamoto City, Japan, 28 July 2026. EPA

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