Aerial footage from the affected region showed the scale of the disruption following the earthquake.
Buildings were damaged and large flames could be seen rising from structures that had caught fire. Emergency workers were seen trying to control the fires and search affected areas.
Police also received a report of an explosion at an Aeon Mall outlet in the Kumamoto region. Authorities did not immediately provide details about the extent of damage or whether anyone was injured in connection with the reported explosion.
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Japan quake damage seen from the air
Kumamoto fire and police services are assessing damage from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck southwestern Japan on July 28.
Visit our website for updates: https://t.co/bZpiKm94ylpic.twitter.com/9SP7bw7znq
— NHK WORLD News (@NHKWORLD_News) July 28, 2026
#WATCH | Kumamoto, Japan: Aerial footage shows buildings on fire, overturned trains and major damage to a shopping mall in Kumamoto prefecture after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck southern Japan. Emergency crews were seen trying to douse large flames… pic.twitter.com/SBqNyybEdu
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2026
The earthquake also damaged roads in some areas, making it harder for people to move around and for emergency teams to respond.
The full extent of the damage was still being assessed as authorities continued their rescue and relief work.
Tsunami warning issued and later lifted
The earthquake initially triggered a tsunami warning for parts of the affected region.
The warning was later lifted, but authorities urged people in coastal areas to remain careful and follow official instructions.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called on people to stay away from the coast in a message shared on X.
She said the government had created a task force to collect information about the situation, assess possible damage and prepare rescue operations if needed.
Authorities had issued warnings across several prefectures in Kyushu, including Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki.
Around 150,000 people were reportedly urged to move to designated shelters as a precaution.