Strong 7.1-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Southern Japan; Tsunami Alert Issued

Japan: A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon, registering the maximum intensity of 7 on Japan’s shindo seismic scale and prompting a tsunami advisory for nearby coastal areas.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the quake occurred at around 4:27 p.m. local time (16:27 JST), with its epicenter in the city of Uki, just south of Kumamoto city, at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers. The U.S. Geological Survey later revised its magnitude estimate to 6.8.

Shaking reached the highest level of 7 (indicating extremely violent motion capable of throwing people and causing severe damage) in Uki and Hikawa. Intensity of upper 6 was recorded in parts of Kumamoto city (Minami Ward), Yatsushiro, Uto, Mashiki, and Misato. Strong tremors of lower 5 or higher were felt across much of Kumamoto Prefecture and neighboring areas including Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, and Miyazaki.

The JMA issued a tsunami advisory for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, warning residents to stay away from the coast. Officials said the first waves were believed to have arrived shortly after the quake, with more expected. Waves of up to about one meter were cautioned in some reports.

Kyushu Electric Power reported power outages affecting roughly 45,600 households in Kumamoto Prefecture. Train services, including high-speed Shinkansen lines operated by JR Kyushu, were suspended for safety checks. There were no immediate reports of irregularities at nuclear power plants in the region.

Emergency earthquake warnings were activated for multiple southern prefectures. The Japanese government set up a response team, and Prime Minister’s Office instructions were issued. Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant for aftershocks.

No immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage had been confirmed in early accounts, though assessments were ongoing. The quake comes just over a decade after the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which killed 278 people and caused widespread destruction, including heavy damage to Kumamoto Castle.

Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent seismic activity.