A magnitude 7.1 earthquake shakes part of southern Japan and a tsunami advisory is issued

Key Points:

• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, prompting a tsunami advisory for nearby Ariake Bay, with a predicted tsunami height of up to 1 meter.
• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to avoid the coastline and remain cautious of possible strong aftershocks, while the government established a task force for damage assessment and rescue preparation.
• The Japan Meteorological Agency noted ongoing seismic activity and warned residents to be vigilant for potential larger quakes in the next two to three days, though no tsunami has been observed yet and the advisory may be lifted soon.
• No major damage to public infrastructure or abnormalities at three nearby nuclear power plants were reported; however, train services in Kyushu and operations at Aso Kumamoto Airport were temporarily suspended for safety inspections.
• The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the earthquake as magnitude 7.1 but later revised it to 6.8, while Japan’s Defense Ministry deployed aircraft to assess the situation.