A strong 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kyushu region on Tuesday, prompting tsunami warnings, emergency alerts and precautionary evacuations in several prefectures. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the quake hit Kumamoto Prefecture at a shallow depth beneath the seabed, leading authorities to activate emergency response measures across the island.

According to the JMA, the earthquake occurred off the coast of Kumamoto at a preliminary depth of 10 kilometres. Soon after the tremor, the agency issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to 1 metre (3.28 ft). A tsunami advisory was also issued for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea, including Ariake Bay on the western coast of Kumamoto, about 900 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat beyond local coastlines.

Authorities urge residents to stay alert

Japan’s Cabinet Office Disaster Management Division said the quake recorded the country’s highest seismic intensity of 7 in the Kumamoto region and appealed to residents to depend on official updates.

Also Read | China ramps up 11 J-20 stealth jets facing India, satellite images reveal fresh concerns

“An earthquake occurred in the Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture, registering a maximum seismic intensity of 7. Residents in areas where the shaking was strong, in addition to information from the national government and local authorities, please check reliable sources such as television, radio, and the internet, and act calmly,” it said.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up a dedicated task force to closely monitor the developing situation and coordinate emergency operations.

“We are putting people’s lives as the top priority,” Takaichi said in a message posted on X, urging residents in affected areas to avoid the coastline and remain alert for possible strong aftershocks.

Emergency earthquake warnings were activated for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures across Kyushu.

Transport suspended and power outages reported

The National Center for Seismology said the earthquake occurred at 12:57:22 IST, with its epicentre located at 32.643°N latitude and 130.985°E longitude, at a depth of 70 kilometres.

Officials said electricity supply was disrupted to around 45,600 households in Kumamoto Prefecture, according to Kyushu Electric.

Also Read | Europe wildfires: Over 300,000 evacuated as France, Spain battle massive blazes

As a safety measure, Shinkansen bullet train services and several local rail operations across parts of Kyushu were temporarily suspended while engineers carried out inspections. The defence ministry also dispatched aircraft to assess the extent of the impact.

Quake revives memories of 2016 Kumamoto disaster

The latest earthquake has brought back memories of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which claimed more than 50 lives, injured around 1,800 people, and left tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed.

The disaster also severely affected the historic Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan’s most recognised landmarks. Restoration work on the castle remains ongoing and is expected to continue until 2052, underscoring the long-term impact of the 2016 earthquakes.

FAQs:

Where did the 7.1-magnitude Japan earthquake strike today?

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, triggering tsunami warnings and emergency alerts.

Was there a tsunami after the Japan earthquake today?

Japan issued a tsunami warning for waves up to 1 metre in parts of Kyushu, while the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no wider tsunami threat beyond local coastlines.