Death toll rises in Japan earthquake
The death toll from a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's Kumamoto prefecture has risen to 13, while at least 31 people were injured, authorities said.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told a news conference that 13 people had been confirmed dead following the earthquake. Kumamoto prefectural authorities said 31 people were injured.
Widespread damage reported
The earthquake triggered fires, road and bridge collapses, and caused extensive damage across the prefecture.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the quake struck the Uki and Hikawa areas at 4:27 p.m. local time on Tuesday at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
Disaster-prone region
Kumamoto was also hit by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake in April 2016 that claimed 277 lives.
Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone marked by numerous fault lines, volcanoes and deep ocean trenches.
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