THEOS-2 in Action: Thai Satellite Tracks Earthquake Damage Across Japan

THEOS-2 in Action: Thai Satellite Tracks Earthquake Damage Across Japan

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On July 28, 2026, at 16:27 local time, a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Kyushu, Japan, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The seismic event has claimed at least 13 lives, displaced thousands, and left extensive infrastructure damage in its wake.

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Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) is actively monitoring the crisis using high-resolution imagery from the THEOS-2 satellite. Satellite data reveals widespread structural collapses across homes and key infrastructure, including destroyed river bridges and elevated expressways, chimney at the Yatsushiro Mill of Nippon Paper Industries collapsed, and AEON Mall Kumamoto sustained damage following the earthquake. Essential services have been severely disrupted, leaving over 84,000 residents without power and water. Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train operations remain suspended for safety inspections, while the 17th-century Kumamoto Castle—a historic landmark and major tourism site—suffered notable damage to its outer stone walls.

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Following the mainshock, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami advisories for coastal regions along Ariake and Yatsushiro Bays, spanning Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Saga, and Nagasaki prefectures. Authorities continue to urge vigilance against ongoing aftershocks and the potential risk of additional major quakes throughout the week.

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Japanese emergency services have deployed large-scale relief operations, evacuating affected residents to temporary shelters while rescue teams work to restore basic utilities.

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As an international space technology partner to Japan, GISTDA is providing real-time satellite intelligence to support damage assessments, emergency planning, and disaster response operations across the impacted zones.,