Powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Kumamoto, tsunami warning issued
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit southern Japan’s Kumamoto, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for the region.
Key Takeaways
AIJapanese television announced today that a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan, with authorities issuing a tsunami warning.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert for waves up to one meter (3.28 feet) high following the quake.
The agency stated that this latest earthquake is the strongest on the national seismic intensity scale, known as the Shindo scale, and confirmed the epicenter was in Kumamoto Prefecture.
The Japanese government issued emergency earthquake warnings for the prefectures of Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki, all located on Japan’s southern Kyushu island.