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Sony and Fujifilm have evacuated workers from their factories in Kumamoto, Japan, which is at the epicenter of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country yesterday. <\/p>\n
Manufacturers and retailers operating near Kumamoto on the southern island of Kyushu have suspended operations after the earthquake struck around 4:27 p.m. local time. An aftershock with a magnitude of 6.1 followed about 40 minutes later. <\/p>\n
At least 50 people have been injured, and some are feared dead, after an explosion occurred in an Aeon shopping mall shortly after the earthquake. Firefighters are on the scene attempting to free \u201cmany\u201d trapped people. <\/p>\n
Digital Camera World reports<\/a> that Kyushu is home to several semiconductor and manufacturing plants. Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation is capable of producing four million sensors a day, which are destined for cameras and smartphones.<\/p>\n \u201cOperations at Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation\u2019s Kumamoto Technology Center (located in Kikuyo-machi, Kumamoto Prefecture), were halted after the earthquake on July 28, and currently remain suspended. Damage to the site\u2019s building and manufacturing lines is currently being evaluated,\u201d Sony says in a statement.<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cNo significant damage to buildings or facilities has been confirmed at the company\u2019s Nagasaki Technology Center (located in Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture), Oita Technology Center (located in Oita City and Kunisaki City, Oita Prefecture), and Kagoshima Technology Center (located in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture).\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo casualties have been reported among employees who were working at the company\u2019s sites at the time of the earthquake,\u201d it adds. <\/p>\n DCW notes that Fujifilm\u2019s site in Kumamoto manufactures essential components, including color filters used in sensors and films used in LCD screens.<\/p>\n A lengthy shutdown has the potential to create supply chain delays. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., a company that makes chips for image sensors, has also been evacuated. <\/p>\n In the immediate aftermath, the highest priority is rescuing people trapped or injured on Kyushu. 300,000 people have been given orders to go to evacuation centers, as there is still a risk of further tremors and landslides. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have already been informed that people have been injured. Power outages and fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings,\u201d says Japan\u2019s prime minister Sanae Takaichi. \u201cI ask everyone to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to a safe location.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Kumamoto-800x416.jpg\")
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