A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck south-west Japan, trapping several people inside a shopping centre. Officials confirmed that emergency services are responding to the Aeon Mall in the Kumamoto region, where "many people" are reportedly trapped.
The quake hit inland on Kyushu island at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT). More than 150,000 people have been advised to move to evacuation shelters, and a brief tsunami warning was issued before being lifted within an hour.
Local media reports indicate there was an explosion at the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto following the earthquake. In Kashima, the fire department stated that a shopping complex's second floor collapsed, leaving many people trapped.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday that authorities are assessing the extent of injuries and property damage, noting that several injuries have already been reported. Japan's meteorological agency has warned of strong aftershocks due to the shallow epicentre, which was 10km (six miles) deep. National broadcaster NHK has shown footage of cracked roads, bridges, and buildings on fire.