A strong earthquake hits the south of Japan. The event happens in Kumamoto on Kyushu. The strength is 7.1. Many houses break. Roads and bridges have deep cracks. A cargo train jumps off the rails.
A big shopping mall has big trouble. An explosion happens there after the shaking. Parts of the building fall down. Firefighters look for missing people. More than 50 hurt people get help in a hospital. Police fear dead people.
48000 houses have no power now. Trains and planes stop. Big companies close factories. Sanae Takaichi sends 3600 soldiers for help. 300000 people must leave their homes. They sleep in safe halls now.
Experts say more shakes can come. People must be careful next week. Giant waves are not a danger now. Nuclear power plants are safe. Japan has earthquakes very often.
