A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southwestern Kyushu region on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami alert and leaving thousands of homes without electricity.
The earthquake occurred at about 4:27 p.m. local time and registered the highest intensity level of seven on Japan's Shindo seismic scale, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Officials warned that tsunami waves of up to one metre could reach parts of the coast.
National broadcaster NHK reported that waves close to the predicted height may already have reached some coastal areas. Residents in affected regions were urged to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions.
The quake disrupted electricity supply to about 45,000 households and facilities in Kumamoto Prefecture, local utility provider Kyushu Electric Power confirmed. However, the company said three nuclear reactors operating in the region were functioning normally, while Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no abnormalities at nuclear power plants.
A live television reporter from NHK described the tremor as extremely intense, saying the shaking made it impossible to remain standing and continued for several minutes after the initial quake.
Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where several tectonic plates meet. The country experiences hundreds of earthquakes each year, although most are minor.
The latest quake revived memories of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which claimed 273 lives, and the catastrophic 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster and left about 18,500 people dead or missing.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation for possible aftershocks and tsunami activity while urging residents to stay vigilant.
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