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Powerful earthquake in Japan causes buildings to collapse
🇸🇪 Sweden /Disasters & Emergencies

Powerful earthquake in Japan causes buildings to collapse

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southern Japan, causing buildings to collapse and fires to break out.
  • Tens of thousands of residents are without electricity following the tremor, which registered the highest possible level on Japan's Shindo scale.
  • A tsunami warning was issued, though it is expected to be lifted soon, and this is the first time the highest Shindo level has been recorded since January 2024.

A powerful earthquake, preliminarily measured at magnitude 7.1, has struck southern Japan, causing significant damage including collapsed buildings and reported fires. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that buildings have collapsed and fires have been reported following the tremor. Tens of thousands of people are currently without electricity.

Buildings have collapsed and fires have been reported after the quake.

— Sanae TakaichiPrime Minister Sanae Takaichi commented on the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.

The earthquake occurred on the island of Kyushu at a depth of ten kilometers. It registered the highest possible level on Japan's own Shindo seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), tremors of this intensity make it impossible to stand. This marks the first time the highest level on the Shindo scale has been recorded since the earthquake on the Noto Peninsula in January 2024, according to public broadcaster NHK.

It is impossible to stand.

— Japan Meteorological AgencyThe JMA described the intensity of the earthquake on the Shindo scale.

A tsunami warning was issued for the affected coastal areas. However, a spokesperson for the JMA indicated that the warning is likely to be lifted shortly. The event has caused widespread disruption, with emergency services responding to the damage.

The tsunami warning that was issued can probably be lifted shortly.

— JMA spokespersonA spokesperson for the Japan Meteorological Agency provided an update on the tsunami warning.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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