A preliminary magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, causing widespread power outages, disrupting transportation, and prompting evacuation orders along with warnings of aftershocks. Thousands of homes lost electricity, and many residents faced dangerous conditions. Authorities reported damage to roads, bridges, and buildings, with some structures collapsing or catching fire. The disaster management agency instructed over 150,000 people to seek shelter in evacuation centers.
At her Tokyo office, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters that officials were still assessing the extent of casualties and property damage. “We’ve received reports of injuries, and we are evaluating the situation,” she said. “There have been power outages, fires, road and bridge damage, and building collapses. I urge everyone to take measures to stay safe and evacuate if necessary.”
Public broadcaster NHK displayed images of burning or collapsed buildings, major cracks along roads—including an elevated highway—and a derailed freight train. Earthquake warnings were issued for multiple prefectures across Kyushu Island, with an initial tsunami alert later lifted.
Japan, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent seismic activity, accounting for roughly 20% of the world’s magnitude 6.0 or higher earthquakes. The region is especially vulnerable, with tremors occurring at least every five minutes.
In response to the earthquake, Kyushu Electric Power reported that around 40,000 homes lost power. JR Kyushu suspended train services, including high-speed bullet trains, and Kumamoto Airport closed its runways, leading airlines to divert and cancel flights. Major telecom providers like KDDI and Docomo also reported service disruptions due to power failures and transmission issues. Japan’s nuclear power plants in the affected area confirmed there were no anomalies.
Ten years prior, a devastating quake in Kumamoto resulted in 275 deaths, injured over 2,700, and caused extensive damage to historic sites including the city’s famous castle.