The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu island, damaging buildings, injuring several people and prompting evacuation advisories along coastal areas
Kyushu: Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu was rocked by a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, triggering tsunami warnings, injuring several people and prompting a large-scale emergency response.
The earthquake struck off the coast of Kumamoto Prefecture at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres shortly before 4.30 pm local time, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Authorities reported multiple injuries, while damage was recorded at several locations, including a shopping mall in Kumamoto where sections of walls and the roof partially collapsed. Emergency services were deployed to assess damage and assist affected residents.
Following the quake, the JMA issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas along the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea, cautioning that waves of up to one metre could reach the shoreline. The advisory was later lifted, but residents were urged to remain vigilant.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi directed all agencies to prioritise rescue operations and rapid damage assessments. “I urge residents in areas that experienced strong shaking to remain vigilant against the possibility of further earthquakes of similar magnitude,” she said.
Several thousand households reportedly lost power, while Kumamoto Airport temporarily suspended flights. Authorities also warned residents about the risk of landslides and possible aftershocks.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities had been detected at nearby nuclear facilities, including plants in Ikata, Genkai and Satsumasendai. Japan lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active zones, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence in the country.
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