Powerful 7.1 magnitude quake jolts Japan's Kyushu, tsunami warning issued

A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern Kyushu region on Tuesday, prompting tsunami warnings and emergency alerts across several prefectures, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).JMA said the earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of 10 kilometres beneath the seabed.

Following the quake, the agency issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to one metre (3.28 ft).The Japanese government also activated emergency earthquake warnings for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures, all located on Kyushu island.The tsunami advisory covered Ariake Bay on the western coast of Kumamoto, around 900 km southwest of Tokyo.There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

Authorities continued to assess the impact of the earthquake as emergency response teams monitored coastal areas and infrastructure. The JMA said the earthquake's magnitude and tsunami estimates were preliminary and could be revised as more seismic data became available.Authorities have urged residents in affected coastal areas to remain alert and follow official evacuation and safety instructions.

Further updates are expected as officials assess the extent of the damage and monitor the risk of additional aftershocks or tsunami activity.Kumamoto was devastated by a powerful earthquake in 2016 that killed more than 50 people, injured about 1,800 and destroyed tens of thousands of homes.Catch the latest World News and Live updates.

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