7.1-magnitude earthquake jolts Japan’s Kyushu

A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kyushu island on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for coastal areas.

TOKYO: A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kyushu island on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for coastal areas.

The earthquake hit Kumamoto prefecture at around 4:27pm local time, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The agency recorded the tremor at the highest level on Japan’s seven-point seismic intensity scale in some areas.

Following the earthquake, the JMA warned that tsunami waves of up to one metre could reach nearby coastal areas. Residents were urged to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions issued by local authorities.

The Japanese government also issued emergency earthquake warnings for several prefectures across Kyushu. These included Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki.

The strong tremor disrupted daily life in several areas. Around 40,000 homes reportedly lost electricity after the earthquake. Train services operated by JR Kyushu were also suspended as authorities assessed the situation.

Kyushu Electric Power said its Sendai and Genkai nuclear power plants reported no abnormalities or damage following the earthquake. Officials continued monitoring the facilities as a precaution.

The latest earthquake comes after another strong tremor struck northern Japan on June 25. That earthquake measured 7.2 in magnitude but did not cause major casualties or widespread damage.

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. It sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

The country experiences thousands of earthquakes every year. It also accounts for a significant share of the world’s earthquakes measuring magnitude 6 or higher.