Death Toll Rises to 25 Following Southwestern Japan Earthquake; Rescue Efforts Intensify

Search and rescue operations face mounting challenges as the window for survivors narrows in the aftermath of the devastating tremor.

JAPAN — The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan has risen to 25, as emergency responders work against time and increasingly difficult conditions to locate survivors. Authorities reported that hopes of finding individuals alive under the debris are dwindling as the critical window for rescue operations closes. Rescue teams have been deployed to the hardest-hit areas, navigating through blocked roads and unstable infrastructure to reach trapped residents. Local officials confirmed that several individuals remain missing, prompting intensified efforts from s…