Japan's south-western Kyushu region has experienced more than 100 aftershocks since a powerful earthquake struck on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people. Rescue crews are digging through rubble at a paper factory and a shopping mall in Kumamoto prefecture, looking for trapped survivors. The mall suffered an explosion after the quake. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned it was a race against time to rescue those trapped.
The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to watch for strong aftershocks in the next week. The quake hit Kumamoto at 16:27 local time, with a magnitude of 7.1. Thousands are in evacuation centres, many without power. Temperatures reached 35°C, raising heatstroke risks. Defence Minister Shinjirō Koizumi said about 300 air conditioning units would be flown to the worst-hit areas.