Death Toll Rises to 18 as Rescuers Comb Through Quake Rubble in Southwestern Japan The death toll from last week's devastating earthquake in southwestern Japan has reached 18, with rescuers still searching for survivors amidst the rubble of collapsed buildings and a shattered shopping mall.
The nation is mourning the loss of life, but this disaster also raises questions about Japan's preparedness – or lack thereof – for seismic events that seem to be increasingly frequent.
A Region at Risk Japan is no stranger to earthquakes, thanks to its unique geology making it one of the most seismically active countries in the world.