A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu, damaging buildings and infrastructure, disrupting transport services and leaving dozens of people injured.
The tremor prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a tsunami advisory for the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas along the western coasts of Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Saga prefectures, about 900 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, before lifting the warning less than two hours later.
As emergency responders assessed the impact of the disaster, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Tuesday that the government had established a task force to gather information, evaluate the extent of the damage and coordinate rescue operations where necessary.
Takaichi, in a post on X, said preliminary reports indicated that several people had been injured, while roads, bridges and buildings sustained damage.
She added that power outages and fires had also been reported, although authorities were still working to determine the full extent of the destruction.
The prime minister urged residents to remain cautious, particularly when using open flames, and warned them to watch out for broken glass and other hazards caused by the quake.
According to Kyodo News, a hospital in Yatsushiro City admitted about 40 people with injuries linked to the earthquake.
The news agency also reported that a train derailed at Yatsushiro Station, while stone walls at the historic Kumamoto Castle were damaged by the powerful tremor.
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said there were no reports of major damage to critical public facilities or infrastructure, although emergency responders continued to assess affected areas after receiving numerous calls reporting fires and damage to homes.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority said inspections found no abnormalities at three nearby nuclear power plants.
As a precaution, Shinkansen bullet train services and local rail operations across Kyushu were suspended for safety inspections, while the runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was closed. A notice on the airport’s website said there was “no prospect of resuming operations” immediately.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Defence Ministry said it had deployed aircraft to the affected region to assess the situation and support emergency response efforts.