A powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 7.1 struck south-western Japan on Tuesday, causing damage to infrastructure, evacuations and widespread disruption across the Kyushu region.
The earthquake struck inland on Kyushu island at 16:27 local time, with more than 150,000 people advised to move to evacuation shelters. A brief tsunami warning was issued following the quake but was lifted within an hour.
Authorities are continuing to assess the extent of the damage, while emergency teams remain active in affected areas.
Buildings damaged and people trapped
Several people were reported trapped inside a shopping centre in Kumamoto following the earthquake.
Japan’s fire and disaster management agency confirmed that the second floor of a commercial facility collapsed, with a number of people taken to hospital.
Images from the region showed damage to infrastructure, including a collapsed footbridge and sections of roads affected by the shaking.
Kumamoto Castle also suffered damage, with a stone wall collapsing after the earthquake.
Aftershocks recorded
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said 61 aftershocks were recorded following the initial quake.
The aftershocks ranged from one to six on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, which measures the strength of shaking experienced in specific locations.
The agency warned that further strong aftershocks remain possible due to the shallow depth of the earthquake’s epicentre, which was around 10 kilometres below the surface.
Rescue teams deployed
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the Self-Defence Forces had deployed 3,600 personnel to disaster-hit areas following a request from the governor of Kumamoto.
“Guided by the principle of human life first,” authorities are working with local officials to minimise damage and ensure public safety, she said.
Emergency teams were expected to continue operations through the night to assess damage and monitor affected communities.
Tokyo airport affected by delays
Tokyo Haneda Airport experienced delays and cancellations following the earthquake.
More than 40 domestic and international flights were delayed or cancelled, affecting regional and connecting services.
Passengers were advised to check their flight status with their airline before travelling.
Nuclear plant unaffected
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the Sendai nuclear power plant, located around 100 kilometres from the earthquake’s epicentre, reported no damage or safety issues.
The facility remains operational, while monitoring of the situation continues.
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