A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kyushu island on Tuesday at 4:27 pm local time, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami alert. The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded the tremor at the highest intensity level, seven, on the country's Shindo scale, with initial warnings indicating possible tsunami waves up to one metre. Broadcaster NHK reported waves of that height may have already been observed along the coast.
Power was cut to approximately 45,000 households and facilities in the Kumamoto region, according to Kyushu Electric Power. The utility confirmed three nuclear reactors operating at the time continued normal operations, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no abnormalities at any nuclear plants. Around half an hour after the quake, an NHK staffer on live broadcast described ongoing strong shaking, saying he struggled to stand and that others might be feeling anxious. "Shaking is continuing as I speak. Including myself, there may be some people who feel their hearts racing," he said.
The 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, measuring 6.5 and 7.3 in magnitude, killed 273 people and injured over 2,800. Japan, located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", experiences frequent seismic activity due to its position atop four tectonic plates. A 7.7-magnitude quake in the north on April 20 caused injuries and triggered a special advisory for stronger quakes, lifted after a week.
The same agency that issued a short-lived advisory for an 8.0-magnitude quake risk in April now faces a 7.1 event with active shaking and a tsunami warning. Residents in Kumamoto experienced prolonged tremors and power loss, yet nuclear operations continued without reported disruption. Given the 2016 disaster in the same region, the recurrence of strong quakes raises concerns about long-term infrastructure resilience.
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