7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kyushu
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan on Tuesday afternoon. The earthquake was recorded on the island of Kyushu, about 900 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning that was lifted two hours later.
The United States Geological Survey initially reported a magnitude of 7.1, but later revised it to 6.8.
Response from the authorities
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on the social network X the creation of a task force to collect information and prepare rescue operations. It later confirmed reports of injuries and damage to roads, bridges and buildings, as well as blackouts and fires. “We are putting people’s lives as the top priority,” he declared, and urged extreme precautions against possible aftershocks.
The Kyodo agency reported that a hospital in Yatsushiro treated about 40 people with injuries. Additionally, a train derailed at Yatsushiro Station and several walls of Kumamoto Castle were damaged. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said it is still assessing the extent of damage to public infrastructure.
Shinji Kiyomoto, head of earthquake and tsunami countermeasure planning at the JMA, warned that the shallow quake triggers active seismic activity in the area, calling for special care over the next two or three days. He indicated that no tsunami was observed in the interior.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority confirmed that no anomalies were detected at three nearby nuclear power plants. Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains in Kyushu suspended services for safety checks. Aso Kumamoto Airport closed its runway with no reopening date.
The Ministry of Defense sent aircraft to assess the situation. Kumamoto had already suffered a deadly earthquake in 2016, which left more than 50 dead and thousands of homes damaged.




