A strong earthquake struck Japan, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning. The earthquake, measuring 7.1 in magnitude, jolted multiple towns in Kumamoto on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. It registered the highest level seven on Japan’s Shindo scale of shaking.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert for Ariake bay on the western coasts of Kumamoto, approximately 900 kilometers (560 miles) southwest of Tokyo. Kumamoto had previously experienced a deadly earthquake in 2016, resulting in over 50 fatalities, 1,800 injuries, and extensive damage to homes.

Following the recent quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for coastal areas of the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, advising people to steer clear of the coast. The first tsunami wave was reported to have reached the seas shortly after the earthquake, with more waves anticipated.

The Japanese government issued emergency earthquake warnings for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures, all located on Kyushu island. The earthquake occurred at 4:29 pm local time in the western region of Kumamoto, about 900 kilometers (540 miles) southwest of Tokyo.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that there was no risk of a tsunami beyond local coasts. The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, shook Kumamoto on Kyushu Island. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) below the sea surface.