A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kyushu island, injuring several people and causing building collapses. Authorities issued a tsunami warning and ordered coastal evacuations.
Tokyo: A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, leaving several people injured, damaging buildings, and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for coastal areas.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the seabed. A tsunami warning was immediately issued for waves of up to 1 meter (3.28 feet), with residents in vulnerable coastal regions urged to evacuate to higher ground and follow official emergency instructions.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that injuries had been reported and that at least one building collapsed following the strong tremors. Emergency response teams have been deployed to assess damage and assist affected residents.
The government also issued emergency earthquake alerts for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures across Kyushu.
No Nuclear Abnormalities Reported
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority stated that no immediate abnormalities were detected at nuclear power plants in the affected region after the earthquake, easing concerns over nuclear safety.
Second Major Quake in Recent Weeks
The latest earthquake comes just weeks after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on June 25, causing limited damage and no reported fatalities.
Japan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where four major tectonic plates meet. The country experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year and continues to maintain one of the world’s most advanced earthquake monitoring and disaster response systems.
The disaster also revives memories of the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, which claimed around 18,500 lives and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents to stay alert for aftershocks and follow official advisories until the tsunami warning is lifted.
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