The Japanese government has confirmed that the death toll from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture has risen to 13. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi disclosed the figure today, following the quake that struck yesterday at 4:27 p.m. local time. The tremor registered a maximum intensity of 7 on Japan's seismic scale, the highest level, and marks the first such event since the Noto Peninsula earthquake in 2024. The epicenter was at a depth of about 10 kilometers in the areas of Uki City and Hikawa Town, while surrounding areas recorded an intensity of upper 6. The disaster has left many injured, sparked fires, caused power outages affecting more than 48,000 households, forced the closure of airport runways, and suspended all Shinkansen bullet train services.