A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kyushu region on Tuesday, prompting tsunami warnings and emergency alerts across several prefectures, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).The JMA said the earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu. Following the quake, the agency issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to one metre. “A tsunami warning for a wave measuring 1 metre (3.28 ft) was issued after the earthquake,” the JMA said.The Japanese government also activated emergency earthquake warnings for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures, all located on Kyushu island.Earlier, the Associated Press reported that the earthquake had shaken southern Japan, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami advisory as a precaution.There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage. Authorities continued to assess the impact of the earthquake as emergency response teams monitored coastal areas and infrastructure. The JMA said the earthquake’s magnitude and tsunami estimates were preliminary and could be revised as more seismic data became available.Authorities have urged residents in affected coastal areas to remain alert and follow official evacuation and safety instructions. Further updates are expected as officials assess the extent of the damage and monitor the risk of additional aftershocks or tsunami activity.
