Consecutive, deadly earthquakes rock southern Japan

After a series of powerful earthquakes hit Japan, emergency crews are scrambling to rescue survivors trapped in rubble as aftershocks sway Kyushu region. At least 26 people died in the latest Kyushu earthquake, according to Kumamoto Prefecture’s disaster management office. The magnitude-7.0 quake hit early Saturday local time. Two days earlier, a 6.2. quake rattled […]

After a series of powerful earthquakes hit Japan, emergency crews are scrambling to rescue survivors trapped in rubble as aftershocks sway Kyushu region.
At least 26 people died in the latest Kyushu earthquake, according to Kumamoto Prefecture’s disaster management office. The magnitude-7.0 quake hit early Saturday local time.
Two days earlier, a 6.2. quake rattled the area, killing nine people. The combined death toll is at 35. Both earthquakes left 968 people injured, according to the disaster management office.
The latest and most powerful earthquake struck near the city of Kumamoto. It toppled buildings, collapsed bridges and shredded structures into piles of debris.
At least 23 people are buried inside buildings, Chief Cabinet Secretary YoshihideSuga said.
Residents were already reeling from the effects of the earthquake that hit Thursday near Ueki city, just 15 kilometers away.
Kumamoto prefecture continues to experience as many as 165 aftershocks.
“I feel every aftershock,” said Yoshizumi, who was working from the city hall building in Kumamoto. “It’s swaying here every hour.”