Magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes Japan’s Kumamoto region
A shallow magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto in southern Japan, prompting a tsunami warning as authorities assessed possible damage
A preliminary magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu late on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a tsunami advisory for nearby coastal areas.
The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded the earthquake in the Kumamoto region at about 4.27pm local time on Tuesday (July 28). Preliminary agency data placed the epicentre at 32.6 degrees north and 130.7 degrees east, at a depth of about 10 kilometres.
The agency issued an emergency earthquake alert following the strong tremor. Initial reports gave the earthquake a magnitude of 7.1.
A tsunami advisory was subsequently issued, although there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center indicated that there was no threat to coastlines beyond the affected local area.
Authorities were assessing conditions in the affected region as residents awaited further information on possible damage, transport disruption and aftershocks.
Kumamoto lies on Kyushu, about 900 kilometres south-west of Tokyo.
The magnitude, depth and epicentre remained preliminary and could be revised after further analysis by the meteorological agency.
