Japan has issued a tsunami alert after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s southwestern region on Tuesday, disrupting electricity supply to thousands of homes.
The earthquake occurred at 4:27 p.m. (0727 GMT) on the island of Kyushu and registered the maximum level of sevenon Japan’s Shindo seismic intensity scale, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Authorities warned that tsunami waves of up to one metre (three feet) could reach affected coastal areas.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that waves close to that height may already have been observed.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that no abnormalities were detected at nearby nuclear power plants following the earthquake.
According to Kyushu Electric Power, about 45,000 households and facilities in the Kumamoto region lost electricity after the tremor.
The utility company also stated that the three nuclear reactors operating in the region continued to function normally despite the quake.
Approximately 30 minutes after the earthquake, an NHK reporter wearing protective gear described the situation during a live broadcast, saying the aftershocks remained intense.
“Shaking is continuing as I speak. Including myself, there may be some people who feel their hearts racing,” he said.
He added:
“When the quake struck, the shaking was so big that I could not stand up. Please be aware of possibility that shaking might continue after this.”
Japan’s History Of Major Earthquakes
The Kumamoto region has experienced devastating earthquakes in the past. In 2016, the area was struck by two powerful earthquakes—measuring 6.5 and 7.3—which claimed 273 lives and left more than 2,800 people injured.
More recently, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on June 25, although it did not result in any deaths or significant damage.
Japan remains one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world because it sits atop four major tectonic plates along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
The country, with a population of approximately 125 million, experiences hundreds of earthquakes each year and accounts for nearly 18 per cent of global seismic activity.
While most tremors are relatively minor, their impact often depends on the location and depth of the earthquake.
Japan continues to live with the memory of the 2011 magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake, which triggered a devastating tsunami that left around 18,500 people dead or missing and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Earlier this year, on April 20, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan, injuring at least 10 people and shaking high-rise buildings as far away as Tokyo.
The incident prompted authorities to issue a special advisory warning of an elevated risk of earthquakes measuring 8.0 or higher, although that advisory was withdrawn after one week.
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