TOKYO, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Two people were in cardiac arrest, two others suffered serious injuries, and seven remained missing after a powerful earthquake caused severe damage at a paper plant in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, local media reported Wednesday.
The factory, located in Yatsushiro City, where the 7.1-magnitude quake registered upper 6 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, sustained extensive damage on Tuesday, including the collapse of a smokestack, public broadcaster NHK reported.
The report said 11 workers were trapped at the facility following the earthquake. Four have been rescued so far, including two who were found in cardiac arrest and two who sustained serious injuries.
The remaining seven workers are still unaccounted for. Authorities believe five are trapped on the second floor of a damaged building and two on the first floor, the report said.
Police and firefighters continued search and rescue operations at the site.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a morning press conference that about 10 police officers, 140 firefighters and 20 members of the Self-Defense Forces were engaged in rescue operations at the mill.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said earlier Wednesday that the government has confirmed 13 people died after a powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto at 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday. ■