A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kyushu island on Tuesday, causing the collapse of an Aeon Mall in Kumamoto city. The collapse resulted in the deaths of two women, with numerous people initially reported missing. Rescue operations continued throughout the night, successfully retrieving eight people, four with moderate injuries, one with minor injuries, and another suffering a heart attack. Additionally, a chimney at a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City collapsed, leaving nine missing and two with heart attacks. The earthquake caused widespread damage in Kumamoto, including power and water outages affecting tens of thousands, damage to 45 medical facilities, and partial collapse of a historic castle wall. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dispatched 3,600 personnel to assist with recovery efforts, as aftershocks continued to be felt and authorities warned of potential further seismic activity. This event echoes a series of earthquakes in the Kumamoto region in 2016, which resulted in 278 fatalities.