A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan's southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon, triggering emergency warnings and prompting authorities to assess the extent of the damage.
On Wednesday, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said at least five people were killed.
At least two of the victims died in a shopping mall in Kashima and the third died in a building collapse in a town near the epicenter.
Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, reported that "many people" were trapped inside the shopping mall damaged by the earthquake.
Several people were rescued from the mall, including a person who was reported to be in cardiopulmonary arrest. Ten people were unaccounted for.
