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Magnitude 7.1 quake in Japan leaves several injured
In pictures: Buildings damaged after powerful earthquake hits south-west Japan
The powerful earthquake struck inland in Kumamoto prefecture
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck south-west Japan on Tuesday, trapping some people under rubble, and forcing some 300,000 people to evacuate.
The quake hit Kyushu island at 16:27 local time (07:27 GMT) and after shocks have continued to rumble.
At a large and popular shopping mall in the Kumamoto prefecture, the second floor collapsed, trapping people inside the centre.
The fire department said that people were trapped in the Aeon Mall, with local media reporting there was also an explosion
In the city of Yatsushiro, part of a traffic bridge collapsed into a river
Damage was caused to the Kyushu Expressway
Businesses and homes across Kumamoto prefecture have been damaged
Footage aired by national broadcaster NHK showed cracked roads and bridges and several buildings on fire.
Japan, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. It experiences about 1,500 quakes a year.
After the initial earthquake, people gathered in open spaces incase there was another strong shake
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara has confirmed emergency responders had been deployed, and urged people to stay calm.
"We urge residents in areas where the shaking was particularly severe to pay close attention to evacuation information issued by local authorities via radio, television and the internet," he said.
Kumamoto Castle, which was reconstructed in 1960, has been damaged for the second time - it was also damaged by a strong earthquake in 2016