Japan earthquake alert: 7.3 magnitude powerful earthquake strikes Japan again; more than 50 aftershocks felt

A powerful second earthquake, with a magnitude 7.3 on Richter scale, has struck southern Japan again and has killed at least 11 people. This latest temblor comes just over a day after a quake in the same region killed nine people. Hundreds of people are stuck under the debris and many are severely injured.

Residents near a dam have been told to leave as it might crumble. Power outages, fires, collapsed bridges and wide craters on the ground have been reported. The authorities have warned people of widespread damage.

More than 50 aftershocks have been reported after Saturday’s quake and people have rushed out to the streets when the quake struck 1:25 a.m. local time, broadcaster NHK said. Japan's Meteorological Agency said that the focus was 12 kilometres deep in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Hospitals are treating more than 880 people for severe injuries and health-related issues as a result of the earthquake. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the government is taking every measure necessary to determine the extent of damage. They are already carrying out rescue operations.

As per reports, today’s earthquake was 22 times more powerful than Thursday’s shocker. A tunnel has caved in, roads have been blocked by landslips, train services have taken a blow and a Highway Bridge is damaged. The region’s transport system has suffered severe damage.

Of the numerous aftershocks post Saturday’s temblor, two of them were of magnitude 6 and John Bellini, a US Geological Survey geophysicist has warned of more earthquakes of this size, SkyNews reports.

“First and foremost, we have to save lives. This requires prompt actions,” said a spokesman at Abe's office, writes Yahoo7 News.

Kumamoto and its surrounding areas are mostly rural with a few sizeable towns. Television footage has revealed that people are frightened. Some have wrapped themselves with blankets and sitting outside homes while others have camped in rice fields.

This is a developing story.