Update: Nine people killed after earthquake in Japan.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the evening of April 14th, a strong earthquake struck southwestern Japan, killing at least nine people. Aftershocks continue, and residents in the area have been evacuated.

Many houses collapsed in the earthquake in Kumamoto. Photo: Internet.

The earthquake measured 6.5 on the Richter scale. An automated camera captured images of the earthquake collapsing half of a 200-meter-long wall surrounding Kumamoto Castle, a Japanese cultural heritage site, at 9:30 PM (Japan time). The camera footage also showed the castle shaking violently during the earthquake.

According to authorities in Kumamoto Prefecture, 900 people are currently receiving medical care, with the majority of deaths attributed to being trapped when buildings collapsed.

Police also reported that a fire broke out in a town near Mashiki, affecting surrounding areas. Following the earthquake, more than 100 aftershocks occurred, causing extensive damage to homes in the region. More than 1,000 households are currently without electricity and gas.

Kumamoto officials said more than 30,000 people in the prefecture have been evacuated. The city government headquarters has been moved to an evacuation area because the current office is without power and is littered with the debris of the earthquake.

Major highways suffered extensive cracks and damage, with some sections closed to traffic. According to Japan Railways, a Shinkansen bullet train even derailed during the earthquake, but fortunately, no one was injured.

Japan has only one nuclear power plant, the Sendai plant in the Kyushu region. Preliminary checks indicate that the two nuclear reactors there were unaffected and continued to operate normally after the earthquake.

Watch the video of the earthquake in Japan on the night of April 14th (Source: RT):

Thanh Hien

(According to NHK)