6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Kumamoto, Japan; Many Feared Dead in Mall Explosion

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on July 28, 2026, injuring at least 50 and prompting roughly 300,000 evacuations. An explosion at an Aeon mall in Kashima trapped many inside; police told TBS that "quite a few" were presumed dead. The cause remains unclear. The epicenter lay 20 km south of Kumamoto city. JMA warns of aftershock risk for a week.