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Watch: Japanese mall explodes after magnitude 6.8 earthquake
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's Kyushu island, triggering an explosion at an Aeon shopping mall that caused part of the building to collapse. The blast happened after staff and customers had already evacuated, though search teams are continuing to look for survivors amid concerns that people may still be trapped in the partially collapsed structure.
The quake hit at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT) on Tuesday. A witness described seeing an explosion and smoke coming from the mall, adding that the second floor of the building had collapsed. The mall's operator confirmed to AFP that the explosion occurred following the evacuation.
In short
- Magnitude 6.8 quake hits Kumamoto, Japan, causing mall explosion
- Aeon mall's second floor partially collapsed after blast
- Evacuation occurred before explosion; searches for survivors continue
Explained simply
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's Kyushu island on Tuesday afternoon. Magnitude is a measure of an earthquake's strength, and earthquakes of this level are considered strong and can cause significant damage.
An explosion occurred at a large shopping centre called Aeon mall in the affected area during or shortly after the earthquake. Part of the building collapsed, though staff and customers had been evacuated before the blast, which helped prevent casualties.
Search teams are continuing to look for survivors who may be trapped in the collapsed structure. Japan is located in one of the world's most seismically active regions, so earthquakes are relatively common there, but when they occur near populated areas they can have serious consequences.