Watch: Japanese mall explodes after magnitude 6.8 earthquake

At least 23 people have been killed, with many others missing, after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday afternoon, causing widespread destruction and damage. The earthquake hit the Kumamoto area on the southern main island of Kyushu at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT), collapsing houses and buildings, including a shopping mall, where an explosion occurred after staff and customers had already evacuated. Thousands of people are in evacuation centers, many without power, as rescue efforts continue to find those trapped under the rubble. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned it was "a race against time" to rescue those trapped, with the country's Self-Defence Forces joining rescue workers in search and rescue operations. The Japan Meteorological Agency has urged residents to be alert for the possibility of strong aftershocks, warning people to watch out for potential earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of 7 over the next week.