Magnitude 6.8 earthquake hits Kyushu, Japan, causing building collapses and fires

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Japan’s Kyushu island early Thursday, triggering the collapse of several structures, igniting multiple fires and causing extensive damage across the affected municipalities. The tremor was felt strongly in the prefectures of Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima, where emergency services reported roofs caving in, walls buckling and power lines snapping, leaving thousands without electricity.

The Japanese government dispatched disaster‑relief teams and the Self‑Defense Forces to assist local authorities in search‑and‑rescue operations, while the Meteorological Agency issued aftershock warnings and urged residents to stay clear of damaged buildings. Hospitals reported a rising number of injured, and temporary shelters were set up for displaced families. Officials said the quake underscores the region’s vulnerability to seismic events and confirmed that monitoring will continue as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.