A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, damaging buildings, roads and historic structures while forcing the suspension of rail and airport operations across parts of Kyushu.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A powerful earthquake struck Japan’s southern island of Kyushu late Tuesday afternoon, injuring dozens of people, damaging buildings and transportation infrastructure, and prompting a temporary tsunami advisory for several coastal prefectures.
The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the earthquake at magnitude 7.1. The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the same magnitude before revising its estimate to 6.8.
The earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, about 560 miles southwest of Tokyo. Japan’s weather agency issued a tsunami advisory covering the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas along the western coasts of Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Saga prefectures.
The advisory was lifted within two hours, and officials said no tsunami was observed because the earthquake originated inland. The agency’s current alert page showed no tsunami warning or advisory remaining in effect.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that the national government had established a task force to collect information, evaluate damage and prepare rescue operations. The Prime Minister’s Office also issued instructions directing authorities to prioritize emergency disaster response following the earthquake.
Takaichi later told reporters that authorities had received reports of injuries, fires, power outages and damage to roads, bridges and buildings, although the full extent of the destruction remained unclear.
She warned residents to watch for broken glass and urged anyone cooking to be especially cautious about fire.
“We are putting people’s lives as the top priority,” Takaichi said, urging residents in the areas that experienced the strongest shaking to remain alert for aftershocks.
A hospital in Yatsushiro accepted approximately 40 people with earthquake-related injuries, according to Kyodo News. Details about the severity of their injuries were not immediately available.
The earthquake also derailed a train at Yatsushiro Station, causing it to fall onto one side. No immediate information was provided about injuries involving passengers or railway employees.
Stone walls at Kumamoto Castle were damaged during the shaking. The historic site previously sustained extensive damage during the deadly earthquakes that struck the prefecture in 2016.
Local fire departments received numerous emergency calls involving residential damage and fires. Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said authorities were continuing to determine the overall scope of the damage.
The agency initially reported no confirmed damage to major public facilities or critical infrastructure, though inspections and emergency assessments remained underway.
Shinji Kiyomoto, an earthquake and tsunami countermeasures planning officer with the Japan Meteorological Agency, said the shallow earthquake had triggered active seismic activity in the region.
Kiyomoto urged residents to exercise heightened caution during the following two to three days because additional strong shaking remained possible.
Shinkansen bullet trains and local rail services across Kyushu were suspended while operators inspected tracks, bridges and other equipment for damage.
The runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was also closed. A notice on the airport’s website said there was “no prospect of resuming operations” at that time.
Japan’s Defense Ministry dispatched aircraft to survey the affected region and help authorities evaluate conditions from the air.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority inspected three nearby nuclear power plants and reported no abnormalities.
The earthquake revived memories of the destructive seismic sequence that struck Kumamoto in 2016. Those earthquakes killed more than 50 people directly, injured approximately 1,800 and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes.
Officials continued assessing damage Tuesday while emergency personnel responded to fires, injuries and calls involving damaged homes. Residents were advised to avoid unstable buildings, remain prepared for aftershocks and follow instructions from local authorities.
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