Japan has been rocked by a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture, triggering the country's highest Shindo 7 seismic intensity in parts of the region. The violent quake was followed by a strong aftershock within minutes, prompting authorities to warn residents that even more powerful tremors could follow. Several neighbouring cities also experienced Shindo 6-level shaking as the earthquake was felt across a wide area. The disaster has revived painful memories of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, one of Japan's most devastating seismic disasters in recent history, as residents once again brace for uncertainty amid ongoing seismic activity.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake has devastated western Colombia, leaving at least 132 people dead and more than 570 injured as rescue teams race to search collapsed structures and reach survivors trapped beneath the rubble. The earthquake struck near San José del Palmar, with the Chocó and Coffee Axis among the hardest-hit areas. The scale of destruction is emerging across affected regions, with 1,577 residential buildings reported damaged and 37 completely destroyed. More than 60 buildings have collapsed, while 18 health centres and 52 schools have also sustained damage, placing additional pressure on emergency services and local infrastructure. WATCH