Rescue teams in southern Japan raced to find more survivors on Wednesday after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the region a day earlier. Emergency workers were seen pulling people from a heavily damaged shopping mall in Yatsushiro as the search continued through the rubble.
Authorities said at least 13 people were killed in the quake, which caused widespread destruction across the area. The shaking also left thousands of homes without electricity, adding to the disruption for residents already dealing with damaged buildings and debris.
Roads were split and broken in several places, complicating rescue efforts and slowing travel across the region. Crews worked to reach affected sites while checking unstable structures and searching for anyone who may still be trapped.
The latest rescue operation highlighted both the scale of the destruction and the urgency facing first responders in the aftermath of the southern Japan earthquake. With power outages, damaged infrastructure and a rising human toll, the region remained in emergency mode as recovery efforts pressed on.
