A devastating earthquake struck southwestern Japan, claiming at least 13 lives as rescue operations continue across affected regions. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the death toll while emergency services work around the clock to locate missing persons and assess structural damage. Authorities have deployed search and rescue teams to identify survivors trapped in collapsed buildings. The seismic event has prompted widespread concern about infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness in Japan's earthquake-prone regions.

Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.