Strong earthquake shakes southern Japan

A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake jolted southwestern Japan on Tuesday, leaving several people injured and disrupting daily life. The tremor's epicenter was located in Kumamoto Prefecture at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the national weather agency.

Following the earthquake, a tsunami warning was issued for the coastal region, with potential waves of up to one meter. In Kumamoto Prefecture, approximately 48,000 households experienced power outages. Several sections of highways were closed, and authorities were investigating reports of fires.

The Japanese government has directed relevant ministries to swiftly evaluate the situation and implement emergency measures. Initial checks at nuclear power plants in the affected region indicated no irregularities.

This earthquake is a stark reminder of the region's seismic vulnerability. Kumamoto Prefecture was previously struck by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake ten years ago, which resulted in dozens of fatalities and significant damage to buildings, including the historic Kumamoto Castle.