A 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan on Tuesday local time, leaving thousands of households without power, suspending train services, and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami warning for waves of up to one meter was issued after the quake. The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located in the city of Uki, south of Kumamoto city.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on social media platform X, urging residents in affected areas to "remain vigilant about the possibility of another earthquake of similar intensity." She said the government was working to assess the extent of damage as quickly as possible.
The earthquake affected multiple prefectures on Kyushu Island, including Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki. Residents in major cities felt strong shaking.
Regarding infrastructure, Kyushu Electric Power reported about 40,000 households lost electricity. JR Kyushu also suspended operations of all trains, including bullet trains. Meanwhile, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed no abnormalities at nuclear power plants in the region.
Factories operated by Sony and TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, lie in the earthquake's path. However, no immediate reports of damage to industrial facilities were available.
Lying on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, accounting for about 20% of all quakes magnitude 6 or above. A decade ago, two major earthquakes in Kumamoto killed 275 people and injured 2,739.
