Kumamoto: A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, triggering widespread disruptions across Kyushu Island. The strong tremor caused power outages, halted transportation services, and prompted authorities to issue tsunami and aftershock warnings.
Japan’s emergency earthquake alert system was activated for several prefectures, including Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki, urging residents to remain vigilant.
The Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued a tsunami warning predicting waves of up to one meter. However, the advisory was lifted less than two hours later after officials confirmed that no tsunami had developed.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said initial reports indicated multiple injuries, structural damage, fires, and disruptions to public infrastructure. Emergency teams have been deployed to assess the full extent of the damage, while authorities continue to gather information on casualties and affected communities.
The earthquake also disrupted essential services, leaving nearly 40,000 households without electricity. JR Kyushu suspended train operations across parts of the region, including its high-speed Shinkansen bullet train network, as safety inspections were carried out.
Several major manufacturers with operations in the affected area, including Sony and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), began evaluating the impact of the earthquake on production and facilities.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that inspections at nearby nuclear power plants found no signs of damage or operational abnormalities.
Situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active nations and experiences frequent earthquakes. The region was previously struck by the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which claimed 275 lives and injured more than 2,700 people.
