What happened: Munetaka Murakami said he awoke to heartbreaking news from Kumamoto. He urged residents to prioritize their safety and lives.
Why it matters: Rescue crews continued searching for survivors Wednesday amid aftershocks, extreme heat and damaged infrastructure. Kumamoto also endured deadly earthquakes in 2016.
By the numbers: The quake struck Tuesday at about 4:27 p.m. local time, measured roughly 10 kilometers deep and reached Japan's maximum seismic intensity of 7.
What to watch: Authorities will continue assessing casualties and infrastructure damage while monitoring aftershocks.