Vehicles are crushed under collapsed buildings in Yatsushiro, southwestern Japan, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the day after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Photos show the aftermath of a damaging earthquake in southwestern Japan
KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — A powerful earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday. A shopping mall, a factory and multiple homes were heavily damaged, and Self Defense Forces personnel joined rescue workers to look for survivors.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Workers inspect debris of the Kinparo inn, founded in 1910, for conservation of a possible rebuilding in Yatsushiro, southern Japan, Friday, July 31, 2026, three days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A street shows cracks in Uki, southern Japan, Friday, July 31, 2026, three days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)Electric poles are seen fallen over rail tracks in Hikawa, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026, two days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)AEON Mall, which was damaged by an explosion following an earthquake, is seen in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A collapsed building is seen in Yatsushiro, southwestern Japan, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the day after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)Kiyoshi Matsunaga, a local resident of Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, shows a damaged room of his home Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the day after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A long line of vehicles forms at a gas station as people seek fuel following an earthquake in Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) CORRECTION: Location corrected to Uki, instead of Hikawa.A woman stands near empty shelves as she looks at the ice cream section at a convenience store in Yatsushiro, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026, two days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)Residents receive a water supply after water service was disrupted following an earthquake in Hikawa, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A Self-Defense Force member checks a water supply vehicle providing water to residents affected by an earthquake in Hikawa, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)People gather by a damaged house in Hikawa, southern Japan, Friday, July 31, 2026, three days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A man has meal under a car’s headlights outside their home after they lost electricity in Yatsushiro, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026, two days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A car moves to the wrong lane to avoid a damaged building that fell on the street in Yatsushiro, southern Japan, Friday, July 31, 2026, three days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A rescue worker walks in front of AEON Mall, which was damaged by an explosion following an earthquake, is seen in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A damaged smokestack is seen at the Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s plant in Yatsushiro, southwestern Japan, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the day after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A local woman chats with others as they collect hot spring water in Yatsushiro, southern Japan, Friday, July 31, 2026, three days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)A person sits near a house damaged following an earthquake in Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)Men walking on a car lane of a bridge inspect a damaged bridge built abreast for pedestrians in Yatsushiro, southwestern Japan, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the day after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)Women rest at the Hikawa Town Hall after receiving food and water supplies distributed outside the building in Hikawa, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026, two days after an earthquake hit the area. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
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