Japan earthquake live: Tsunami alert as Kumamoto rocked by violent 7.1 mag tremor

Japan earthquake live: Tsunami alert as Kumamoto rocked by violent 7.1 mag tremor An earthquake measuring magnitude 7.1 and rated as a possible level seven on Japan's own Shindo 'scale of shaking' - the highest possible level - has struck the island of Kyushu A powerful earthquake has hit Japan with authorities issuing an urgent tsunami warning. The massive quake, measured as being magnitude 7.1, rocked multiple towns in Kumamoto on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu - where roughly 13m people live. It measured at the highest possible level seven on Japan's own Shindo "scale of shaking". The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert for nearby Ariake bay on the western coasts of Kumamoto, about 900km (560mi) southwest of Tokyo. Kumamoto was hit with a deadly quake in 2016 that left more than 50 people dead, 1,800 injured and tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed. Key Events The quake’s epicentre was in the Japanese city of Uki, just south of the city of Kumamoto, at a depth of 10km. Kumamoto, which is home to over 700,000 people, is on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency has said there were no reports of damage to major public facilities and infrastructure in the region, though authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage from the quake. Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains in Kyushu have been suspended temporarily for safety checks to be carried out. The Japanese Defence Ministry said it has dispatched aircraft to the area to assess the situation. The tsunami advisory issued for the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas reads: “The sea and areas near the coast are dangerous. Please immediately move away from the coast. Also, until the advisory is lifted, do not enter the sea or approach the coast,” it said. The Cabinet Office's Disaster Management Division told citizens in the area to "leave coastal areas immediately and stay away until the advisory is lifted." Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities were found at three nearby nuclear power plants from the quake. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has posted on X, urging residents to avoid the coastline where a tsunami of up to 1 meter (3 feet) was predicted. She said her government has set up a task force to gather information, assess possible damage and prepare for rescue operations if needed. "We are putting people's lives as the top priority," Takaichi said, urging residents in the strongly-shaken areas to use caution in light of possible strong aftershocks. The powerful quake has rocked the southern Japanese city of Kumamoto. The city, home to over 700,000 people, was hit by two separate earthquakes 10 years ago in April 2016, leaving 278 people dead and injuring another 2,800. Kumamoto Castle, which dates back to the 17th century, sustained heavy damage in the quakes and restoration work is not due to be completed until 2052. The quake’s epicentre was in the city of Uki, just south of the city of Kumamoto, at a depth of 10km, The Japan Times reports. About 45,600 households in Kumamoto Prefecture were left without electricity, the Kyushu Electric company has said. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami advisory for coastal areas of the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, urging people to stay away from the coast. The first tsunami wave was believed to have arrived in those seas shortly after the quake. More waves were expected to arrive soon. A map from the Japan Meteorological Agency shows the intensity of the quake, which was measured as being magnitude 7.1. The Japanese government has issued emergency earthquake warnings for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures - all on Japan’s southern Kyushu island. No damage or injuries were immediately reported after the quake, which took place at 4:29pm local time. The earthquake occurred in the western region of Kumamoto, about 900km (540mi) southwest of Tokyo. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no risk of a tsunami beyond local coasts. An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 shook Kumamoto on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu late Tuesday afternoon (local time). A tsunami advisory was issued, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The quake occurred at the depth of 10km (6mi) below the sea surface, JMA said.