TOKYO, Japan: A strong earthquake measuring 7.1 hit Kumamoto in southern Japan on July 28. It caused widespread damage, cut power to thousands of homes, cracked roads, and trapped people under debris.

Some people were feared dead after part of a large shopping mall collapsed.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo that officials were still checking how serious the damage was. The area had already suffered a deadly earthquake about 10 years ago.

The prime minister said that authorities had received reports of injuries. She said there were power cuts, fires in some places, and damage to roads, bridges, and buildings. She also urged people to protect themselves and move to safe places.

About 300,000 people were told to go to evacuation centers. Hundreds of soldiers were sent to help with rescue work as aftershocks continued to shake the area. The earthquake struck Kyushu, Japan's southern main island.

Media reports said several people were missing after a chimney collapsed at a factory run by Nippon Paper Industries.

Around 20 to 30 workers were also missing at the largest shopping mall in the prefecture after an explosion occurred following the quake. Earlier, fire officials said people were trapped inside, while police believed that many people may have died in the incident.

Videos showed that one side of the mall had been torn apart, exposing steel beams and scattering debris across a large parking area. Ambulances and fire engines were seen outside as rescue teams searched for survivors.

A spokesperson for Aeon, which operates the mall, said customers and staff were evacuated soon after the quake. The spokesperson added that the cause of the explosion was still not known.

Hospitals reported many injuries. One hospital said it had treated more than 50 people, while another treated about 40, including 10 in serious condition. Some passengers on a high-speed train were also injured.

Several other buildings caught fire or were partly destroyed. Large cracks appeared on major roads, including an elevated highway. Train services were stopped, and flights were canceled or diverted.

Major companies, including TSMC, Sony, and Fujifilm, evacuated workers from their factories. Tokyo Electron said it would stop work at its two plants in Kumamoto until July 29. Honda also said it would temporarily shut its motorcycle factory in the area.

The center of the earthquake was about 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto city, which has a population of around 700,000.

An official from the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that strong aftershocks could continue for about a week. The official also warned about the risk of landslides.

A tsunami warning was issued soon after the earthquake but was later canceled.

Kyushu Electric Power said about 48,000 homes lost electricity. JR Kyushu stopped train services, including bullet trains. Kumamoto Airport closed its runway, and many flights were canceled or diverted.

Telecom companies KDDI and Docomo reported problems with mobile phone services due to power cuts and damage to transmission lines.

Authorities said there were no problems at nearby nuclear power plants.

Japan is located along the "Ring of Fire," an area known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country experiences about 20% of the world's earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or higher.