TOKYO: A powerful earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, causing widespread power outages, disrupting transportation services, and prompting evacuation orders across parts of southern Japan.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said authorities were assessing the full extent of the damage and confirmed that injuries had been reported. She noted that several areas experienced power failures, fires, damage to roads and bridges, and building collapses, urging residents to move to safe locations and follow evacuation instructions.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK aired footage showing collapsed and burning buildings, cracked highways, and a derailed freight train. According to the country’s disaster management agency, more than 150,000 residents were advised to evacuate as emergency teams responded to the disaster.
Major companies also took precautionary measures. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) evacuated employees from its local facility, while electronics manufacturer Sony said it was assessing conditions at its nearby plant.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned that strong aftershocks could continue for about a week and cautioned residents about the increased risk of landslides. Although a tsunami warning for waves of up to one metre was initially issued, it was later withdrawn.
Emergency earthquake alerts were activated for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures on the island of Kyushu.
The quake left around 40,000 households without electricity, according to Kyushu Electric Power. Rail operator JR Kyushu suspended multiple services, including bullet trains, while Kumamoto Airport temporarily closed its runway, leading to flight cancellations and diversions.
Japan sits along the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, experiencing frequent seismic activity each year.
