News.am — Rescue operations are underway in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture following a powerful earthquake measuring 7 on the seismic scale. At the Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, 11 people were trapped under debris as a result of the tremors. Rescuers managed to pull out two employees, but both were found to be in cardiac and respiratory arrest, while the fate of the remaining nine people remains unknown.
The situation is also critical at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima. Rescuers discovered five people, three of whom sustained moderate injuries and one minor injuries, while the condition of another person is still being assessed. The whereabouts of nine more people here remain unknown.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in the country's south on July 28. It triggered widespread fires, damaged numerous buildings, and caused severe disruptions to power supply and transport systems. Authorities have issued an urgent warning to residents in the region regarding the persistent threat of further strong aftershocks and landslides.
