A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, causing widespread disruption across the island of Kyushu. The tremor knocked out electricity to tens of thousands of households, halted rail services including high-speed bullet trains, and prompted authorities to issue tsunami warnings for coastal areas.
The Japanese government activated emergency earthquake warnings on Tuesday for seven prefectures on Kyushu: Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki. Residents across the region reported feeling strong shaking, according to The Japan Times, which noted that cities in Kumamoto as well as neighbouring prefectures experienced noticeable tremors.
Epicentre and Tsunami Alert
The earthquake's epicentre was located in the city of Uki, situated just south of Kumamoto city, at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles). The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed these details as it moved to issue warnings to coastal communities.
Following the tremor, the agency issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to 1 metre (3.3 feet). The alert covered areas along Kyushu's coastline, with the region also experiencing aftershocks in the wake of the main quake.
Widespread Power Outages and Transport Disruption
Kyushu Electric Power, the region's leading energy supplier, reported that approximately 40,000 homes had lost electricity as a result of the earthquake. The full extent of infrastructure damage remained unclear in the immediate aftermath of the quake.
Railway operator JR Kyushu suspended services across its network, including its high-speed bullet train lines. The suspensions disrupted travel across the island as the company responded to the seismic event.
Several major corporations maintain manufacturing facilities in the affected area. Sony and TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, both operate plants in the quake's path. There was no immediate information available on whether any of these facilities had sustained damage.