Japan registers magnitude 7.1 earthquake, government issues tsunami warning

A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake jolted Japan's Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, triggering immediate emergency warnings and a tsunami alert. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued warnings for multiple prefectures across the southern Kyushu island, including Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki. The agency predicted tsunami waves of up to 1 meter (3.28 feet) could reach coastal areas.

While the JMA issued a tsunami warning, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated there was no tsunami risk for Hawaii and American Samoa. Kyushu Electric Power reported no irregularities at its Sendai and Genkai nuclear power stations following the quake. Train operator JR Kyushu suspended services, including its high-speed Shinkansen trains, as a precautionary measure.

This seismic event marks the second significant earthquake to impact Japan in 2026. In April, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake off the coast also led to tsunami alerts, with authorities expecting waves of up to 3 meters in some areas. Japan, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is highly prone to seismic activity, experiencing tremors frequently.