Japanese Prime Minister, Takaichi Sanae, confirmed on Wednesday that no fewer than 13 people have died following a powerful earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan on Tuesday.
Authorities said an explosion was reported at a shopping centre in the Kashima area of the prefecture, prompting the evacuation of about 200 people before the second floor of the building later collapsed.
Emergency response teams continue search and rescue operations as disruptions remain across the affected region.
Shinkansen bullet train services have been halted, while thousands of households are still without electricity.
The earthquake, which struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, recorded a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale.
Following the tremor, tsunami advisories were issued for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea areas.
