Former player Zico, recognized as Flamengo’s greatest idol, used his digital platforms to calm his admirers after the strong earthquake that shook Japan, the country where he lives and works professionally. The seismic event, recorded on July 28, 2026, had its epicenter in the city of Kashima, located in Kumamoto Prefecture, in the southern region of the Japanese archipelago.
Zico made a point of clarifying that, although the name of the city may cause confusion, the affected Kashima has no connection with Kashima Antlers, the club with which the red-and-black idol has professional ties. He said in a video that his home is in Hokkaido prefecture in northern Japan, an area considerably away from the epicenter of the quake.
“I’m here to bring a little peace of mind to everyone”, said Zico in his communication. He thanked fans for their concern and confirmed the “major” incident in Japan. The former athlete detailed the location of the earthquake: “The city is also called Kashima, but it is on the south side of the country. Japan has many islands, and this one is in Kyushu, in Kumamoto province. I am in Hokkaido province, in the north, very far away.” Zico lamented the events and expressed solidarity with those affected, confident in the country’s rapid recovery due to its “structure against this”. He concluded: “We are very well, calm and without worries.”
Japan was hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on July 28, 2026, resulting in fatalities and dozens of injuries in Kumamoto Prefecture, located in the southern region. Information released by local authorities indicates that the earthquake caused serious damage to buildings and homes, with several reports of collapses. More recent estimates indicate 13 fatalities, hundreds of injuries and seven individuals still considered missing.
The most serious episode was recorded at the Aeon Mall, in the same city of Kashima, which suffered an intense explosion after the earthquake. Aerial records revealed that the structure of the commercial complex partially collapsed. Japanese media reported that the incident caused the deaths of several people, but the exact number was not detailed.
