A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, prompting tsunami and aftershock warnings, disrupting transportation, and leaving thousands of households without electricity.
According to Reuters, Japan’s government issued emergency earthquake alerts for seven prefectures on the southern island of Kyushu, including Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki. The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued a tsunami warning, forecasting waves of up to one metre (3.28 feet).
Kyushu Electric Power said approximately 40,000 homes were left without electricity following the earthquake. JR Kyushu suspended operations of its high-speed Shinkansen bullet trains and other rail services as a precaution.
The affected region is home to manufacturing facilities operated by Sony and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Sony said it was assessing the impact of the earthquake on its operations, while TSMC did not immediately comment.
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant as strong aftershocks are possible. Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
The latest quake comes a decade after the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which killed 275 people and injured more than 2,700, according to official figures.
