The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan has risen to at least 13 as rescue teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

The magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture late Tuesday, causing widespread damage to roads, bridges and buildings, disrupting rail services, and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. Japan's Meteorological Agency initially measured the quake at magnitude 7.1 before later assessments placed it at 6.8.

Three of the deaths occurred after part of the second floor of an Aeon Mall in Kashima collapsed, while emergency crews rescued at least eight people from the shopping center. According to the BBC, officials believe fewer people remain trapped than initially feared.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed condolences to the victims' families and described the rescue effort as "a race against time." She announced that around 3,600 members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces had been deployed to support emergency operations.

Authorities reported more than 60 aftershocks since the main quake. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, located about 100 kilometres from the epicentre, suffered no damage and continues to operate safely.

Japan, one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, experiences around 1,500 earthquakes each year, with strict building standards helping to reduce casualties during major seismic events.

BOB Post