Japan Quake Toll Hits 35 as Rescuers Search Mall

The powerful quake struck Kumamoto on Tuesday, triggering an explosion at the Aeon Mall and toppling a factory chimney, while also rupturing roads and cutting utilities.

Sniffer dogs and emergency crews worked through the debris as the critical 72-hour rescue window neared its end, with several people still unaccounted for.

The disaster exposed vulnerabilities in Japan's manufacturing supply chains, disrupting car and chip production in the country's 'Silicon Valley' a decade after a similar quake devastated the region.

Sony warned of a negative impact from the earthquake, while the government mobilised thousands of troops for relief efforts.