Kumamoto News

Some 100,000 evacuees endured chilly weather and another large aftershock overnight that hit the southern island of Kyushu, near the city of Kumamoto.

In a very shocking incident, people of the earthquake-hit Japan's Fukuoka city saw a huge carpet of mysterious foamy bubbles on the streets.

Homes, roads and railway lines were swept away when huge hillsides collapsed as thousands of tonnes of mud was dislodged by the thunderous seismic tremors.

The deadly earthquakes that struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu on Thursday and Saturday breached the walls of Kumamoto Castle which had previously withstood bombardment and fire in its four centuries of existence.

The toll from a second powerful quake in southern Japan jumped to 18 on Saturday, officials said, adding to nine killed earlier.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said rescue efforts were critical with wet weather forecast overnight, which could further damage weakened buildings and cause landslides.

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck Japan on Friday night. According to media reports, a tsunami warning has also been issued.  

More than 44,000 people initially fled to schools and community centres, some spending the night outside after the first quake hit around 9:30 p.m.

Tens of thousands of people fled their homes after the 6.5-magnitude quake struck the southwestern island of Kyushu on Thursday night.

Monday's eruption marked the first time Mt. Aso had erupted since October 23, with the latest eruption sending plumes of smoke about 700 metres above the first crater of Mt. Nakadake, which is one of the five peaks comprising the volcano.