Overview
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, which hit Tuesday and produced the maximum shindo 7 reading on Japan’s local intensity scale.
- Shindo 7 denotes the strongest category of ground shaking in Japan and signals very severe, destructive shaking at affected locations.
- The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami advisories for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas and a specific tsunami warning estimating roughly 1‑metre waves that pose hazards to people near shore and small vessels.
- The national government broadcast emergency earthquake warnings to seven Kyushu prefectures — Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki — and urged residents to follow official instructions and avoid coastlines.
- The situation remains developing as authorities assess damage and monitor aftershocks, and officials say people should stay tuned to JMA and local government updates for evacuation orders and safety guidance.