The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan has risen to 30, while rescue teams continue searching for survivors beneath the rubble.

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to homes, buildings and the power grid. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the news.

Some of the victims were killed when part of a shopping mall collapsed, while about an hour later, an explosion suspected to have been caused by a gas leak further damaged the building. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

About 9,000 displaced people are staying in evacuation centers, while more than 30,000 households remain without electricity. Authorities have warned that temperatures in the coming days could reach as high as 39 degrees Celsius, increasing the risk of heatstroke.

To address the situation, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has sent 300 air conditioners to the affected areas, half of which will be installed in evacuation centers.

More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded since the earthquake. Fear of further earthquakes has forced many residents to spend the night in their vehicles.

Search-and-rescue operations have focused on the Aeon shopping mall in Kashima, where part of the second floor collapsed, as well as a Nippon Paper factory in the city of Yatsushiro.

At least five people were killed at the factory, while several workers were trapped beneath the rubble. So far, seven of them have been pulled out alive.

The earthquake, which struck at a depth of only 10 kilometers, was strongly felt throughout the Kumamoto region. Residents described it as one of the strongest tremors they had ever experienced.

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A powerful explosion that followed Tuesday’s seismic tremors at the Aeon Mall shopping complex in Kumamoto, Japan, has caused the death of three people, while three others continue to be searched for.

During a press conference, the center’s president, Akio Yoshida, gave the updated toll and corrected an earlier report, noting that the announcement of four missing persons was not accurate.

Yoshida added that another citizen has suffered cardiac arrest as a result of the incident, as search and rescue teams continue operations at the scene to locate the missing individuals.

Authorities suspect that the explosion recorded immediately after the earthquake occurred as a result of a gas leak.

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Another important step has been taken for the Kosovo Armed Forces on the international stage. Major Driton Haxhiaj has successfully completed a high-level training program designed to equip officers with the necessary skills to command troops in global peace missions.

The announcement was made by Kosovo’s diplomatic representation in Tokyo, which expressed its appreciation for the achievement of the Albanian officer. In its statement, the embassy congratulated Major Haxhiaj on completing the Contingent Commanders’ Course in Peacekeeping Operations, a program conducted at the Japanese Center for Training and Research in Peacekeeping Operations.

According to Kosovar diplomats, this success does not represent merely an individual triumph for Officer Haxhiaj, but simultaneously marks a significant advancement of the capacities of the Kosovo Army as a whole. It is emphasized that this professional achievement constitutes an essential contribution to strengthening the country’s position in multilateral peace operations.

The program in question is a specialized initiative aimed at preparing leadership cadres for the challenges of commanding forces in multinational contexts, based on the best global standards. The fact that a representative of the Kosovo Army has successfully completed this course demonstrates the unwavering commitment of security institutions to professionalize and deepen cooperation with international allies in the field of peacekeeping.

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