Tokyo, July 28: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale has struck Japan, prompting a tsunami warning. The quake occurred in Kumamoto Prefecture, located in the Kyushu region, on Tuesday. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake reached a maximum intensity of ‘Shindo 7’, the highest level on the scale. Tremors were also felt in neighboring South Korea.
The JMA issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas near Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas, urging residents to stay away from beaches. Authorities indicated that the first wave of the tsunami could arrive shortly after the earthquake, with further waves anticipated.
The strongest tremors were recorded in Yatsushiro and Uto cities, as well as in Mashiki and Misato towns, and the Minami ward of Kumamoto city, where a Shindo intensity of 6 was reported.
According to Kyodo News Agency, significant shaking was also felt in other parts of Kumamoto, as well as in neighboring prefectures such as Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, and Miyazaki, where the earthquake’s intensity was rated at 5 or higher on the Japanese scale.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located near the city of Uki, south of Kumamoto, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers.
The earthquake disrupted electricity supply to around 45,600 homes in Kumamoto Prefecture. Kyushu Electric, the local power company, reported that restoration efforts are ongoing in the affected areas.
This earthquake comes nearly a decade after the devastating quakes in Kumamoto in 2016, which resulted in 278 fatalities and approximately 2,800 injuries. The historic Kumamoto Castle suffered significant damage during that disaster, with restoration expected to be completed by 2052.
Tremors were also felt in parts of neighboring South Korea. According to Yonhap News Agency, officials in the southeastern port city of Busan received 157 calls reporting the earthquake, with many more calls still coming in. Some residents moved to safer locations as a precaution.
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