Storyline
Major earthquake strikes Kumamoto, Japan
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Kumamoto prefecture in Japan, causing widespread damage including a partial collapse of the Aeon Mall shopping center that trapped multiple people inside. Rescue efforts are ongoing amid reports of casualties, injuries, and infrastructure damage across the region.
This is a long-running storyline that has developed over 6 days. The homepage highlights its most recent activity, so the outlet count there reflects the latest wave. The totals above cover the full run.
Kumamoto prefectureAeon Mall (Kashima)Kumamoto Castle
2026-08-03
2026-08-02
2026-08-01
- Japan ends rescue operation at a mall that collapsed after a strong quake
- Japan ends rescue operation at a mall that collapsed after a strong quake
- Officials end a five-day rescue operation at Japan’s collapsed Aeon Mall following powerful quake
- Officials end a five-day rescue operation at Japan’s collapsed Aeon Mall following powerful quake
- Japan ends rescue at quake-hit shopping centre after explosion kills 7
2026-07-31
- Quake survivors in southwestern Japan sleep in cars in sweltering heat as death toll rises to 34
- Quake survivors in southwestern Japan sleep in cars in sweltering heat as death toll rises to 34
- Japan: Death toll rises to 34 after deadly earthquake
- Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers again search damaged mall
- Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34
- Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34
- Death toll from Japan earthquake climbs to 34
- Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers again search damaged mall
- Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers again search damaged mall
- Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall
- Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall
- Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers again search damaged mall
- Kumamoto government says the death toll from the southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34
- Photos show the aftermath of a damaging earthquake in southwestern Japan
2026-07-30
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 25
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 25
- Stunned shoppers flee crumbling mall after 7.1-magnitude earthquake rocks Japan
- Japan earthquake death toll climbs as hopes wane for additional rescues
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 25
- Japan quake toll hits 34 as survivors struggle in heat
- Japanese mall is rebuilt to withstand earthquakes. Then it collapses again
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
- ‘Like volcanic ash falling’: Inside Aeon mall after Japan’s earthquake
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
- Death toll in Japan earthquake rises to 23 as aftershock and heat complicate rescue efforts
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
- Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
- The Kumamoto prefecture says deaths from a quake in southwestern Japan have climbed to 23
2026-07-29
- Watch: Japanese mall explodes after magnitude 6.8 earthquake
- Rescuers search for survivors after a 7.1 quake kills 18 in southwestern Japan
- A look at the aftermath in Japan following deadly earthquake
- Rescuers search for survivors after powerful quake kills at least 18 in southwestern Japan
- Rescuers search for survivors after powerful quake kills at least 18 in southwestern Japan
- Rescuers search for survivors after powerful quake kills at least 18 in southwestern Japan
- Rescuers search for survivors after powerful quake kills at least 18 in southwestern Japan
- Rescuers search for survivors after a 7.1 quake kills 18 in southwestern Japan