Japan, powerful earthquake: Death toll reaches 18, rescue operations continue

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Kumamoto region in southwestern Japan, causing significant damage.

The tragic death toll has reached 18, including a foreign national, local authorities announced.

At least 62 people have been injured, six of whom are in critical condition. Search and rescue teams are working tirelessly through the rubble, and officials warn that the death toll could rise in the coming days.

The Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro and the Aeon Mall shopping center are two of the areas that suffered the hardest hit, where loss of life and considerable material damage were recorded.

The Kumamoto region was previously hit by a powerful earthquake in 2016, which caused over 50 deaths.