A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan with its epicenter in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island. The seismic intensity reached level 7, the highest on Japan's Shindo scale. As a result, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea coasts, urging residents to evacuate to higher ground.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that at 16:27 local time on 28 July, a strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurred, centered in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island in southwestern Japan. The epicenter was approximately 10 kilometers deep.
The seismic intensity was measured at the highest level 7 on Japan's Shindo scale at the cities of Uki and Hikawa in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Several other areas in Kumamoto Prefecture experienced strong shaking at intensity 6+ including Minami Ward of Kumamoto City, Yatsushiro, Uto, Misato, and Mashiki. Meanwhile, Kamiamakusa, Koshi, Ozu, Nishihara Village, Mifune, and Ashikita felt intensity 6- shaking.
Following the earthquake, the JMA issued a tsunami warning for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea coasts, anticipating waves up to 1 meter high, expected to arrive around 17:00 local time.
NHK television reported that tsunami waves may have already begun reaching some areas. They warned residents living along the coast to evacuate immediately to higher ground or safe buildings and to avoid approaching the shoreline until the warning is lifted.
Additionally, several strong aftershocks registering up to intensity level 4 occurred at approximately 16:39, 16:59, 17:18, and 17:27.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that there are reports of multiple injuries, collapsed buildings, and fires after the major earthquake in the country's southwest. "We are assessing the extent of injuries and property damage, but I have been informed that multiple people have been injured," she said, adding, "There are power outages and fires in some areas, damaged roads and bridges, and collapsed buildings."
About half an hour after the earthquake, NHK reporters on site wearing helmets broadcast live that shaking was continuing, making it difficult to stand. "The shaking is ongoing as I speak, and I myself feel it. Some may feel their hearts pounding," the reporter said. He added, "When the earthquake struck, the shaking was so strong I could barely stand. Please be cautious as shaking may continue."
So far, there have been no reports of fatalities or severe damage, but officials are urgently assessing impacts on buildings, roads, utilities, and infrastructure in the affected areas.
Kyushu Electric Power Company reported that about 45,000 households and facilities in Kumamoto remain without electricity. No abnormalities have been detected at the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant in Saga Prefecture and the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima Prefecture. Radiation levels around these plants remain stable. Meanwhile, Kyushu Railway Company has suspended all train services, including the Kyushu Shinkansen, due to the earthquake.
Professor Takuya Nishimura from the Disaster Prevention Research Institute at Kyoto University, an expert on earthquake mechanisms, said, "This earthquake appears to have occurred along the Hinagu Fault Zone, located southwest of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake epicenter. This area has been active since the 2016 quake. Because the epicenter was shallow, the areas near it likely experienced very strong shaking."
He added, "It is important to determine whether the entire Hinagu Fault Zone moved in this earthquake or if there remain sections to the south that have not yet ruptured. If parts remain unruptured, there is a possibility of further large earthquakes occurring in sequence, similar to the 2016 Kumamoto events."
Japan is among the most earthquake-prone countries in the world due to its location at the junction of four major tectonic plates within the "Ring of Fire," resulting in hundreds of earthquakes annually, accounting for about 18% of all earthquakes worldwide.
The country continues to learn from the devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011, which triggered a massive tsunami causing approximately 18,500 deaths and missing persons, and led to the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Earlier, on 20 April, Japan experienced a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in the northern region, injuring at least 10 people. The government issued a special warning about the risk of an 8.0 or greater quake, although this warning was lifted after one week.
Japanese authorities remain closely monitoring the situation and urge the public to follow official announcements and strictly adhere to safety recommendations.
. NHK/ AFP