By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team, compiled and reported
　
Japan was hit by a powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake at 9:26 PM Japan Time on April 14 in Kumamoto Prefecture. The quake reached an intensity of 7, with many strong aftershocks, the strongest being a magnitude 6.4, all of which were shallow earthquakes, causing especially noticeable shaking. Most of the damage occurred in the Mashiki area in northern Kumamoto, where many houses collapsed and residents were trapped. Reports include one fatality and seven serious injuries due to collapsed buildings. The Kyushu Shinkansen was also derailed and halted due to the quake. Regarding Taiwanese travelers, the Tourism Bureau has reported that all are safe so far.

[Updated 2016.04.15 18:00]
As of now, the earthquake has resulted in nine deaths and over a thousand injuries. Many roads have collapsed, and numerous houses are either partially or completely destroyed. Survivors are still in shock.

Taiwanese travelers planning to fly to Kumamoto, Japan in the near future, please call your airline to confirm flight status. For example, China Airlines’ direct flights between Kaohsiung and Kumamoto — the flight status for April 15 is still subject to final confirmation. Passengers must double-check whether their flights are operating normally before departure.
 

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