The 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday has left a trail of destruction, particularly in residential areas where a number of houses have collapsed, with the ensuing debris continuing to disrupt local traffic and impact on daily life.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that the government has confirmed at least 13 people have died after the earthquake struck Kumamoto at 16:27 local time Tuesday.
As rescue and assessment efforts continue in the hardest-hit zones, some communities, including those in Hikawa Town, are grappling with the immediate aftermath of the powerful tremors.
A China Media Group (CMG) reporter at the scene detailed the level of damage which has been sustained in some residential communities.
"The two-story wooden house next to me was severely damaged in the strong earthquake and has completely collapsed. In fact, there is a car here (that has been buried by the collapsed roof). You can see that the house is now completely empty, which is common in these hardest-hit areas, as many residential homes have suffered severe quake-damage and are no longer habitable. The main options for the affected residents in the surrounding area now are either to go to centralized evacuation shelters or stay in hotels that are still operational," said CMG correspondent He Xinlei while on the ground in Hikawa.
The debris from many collapsed buildings has spilled onto the adjacent streets, rendering the road impassable to vehicular traffic.
Yatsushiro City is also among the worst-affected areas in the region. The quake has caused water and power outages in some areas, and resulted in the partial collapse of the pedestrian walkway and cycle path of the Ueyanagi Bridge, which is a crucial crossing point over a local river.
Strong quake collapses houses, disrupts traffic in parts of Kumamoto
