Magnitude 7.1 earthquake shakes southern Japan, tsunami advisory issued

A preliminary magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu late Tuesday afternoon, prompting a tsunami advisory for nearby coastal areas, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The advisory was issued for Ariake Bay and the western coasts of Kumamoto, about 900 kilometres (560 miles) southwest of Tokyo. A tsunami of up to 1 metre (3 feet) was forecast, prompting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to urge residents in affected areas to stay away from the coastline.

"We are putting people's lives as the top priority," Takaichi said in a message posted on X. She also urged residents to remain cautious because of the possibility of strong aftershocks.

The government has established a task force to gather information, assess potential damage and prepare for rescue operations if necessary, Takaichi said.

There were no immediate reports of damage to major public facilities or infrastructure in the region, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. Authorities were continuing to assess the impact of the earthquake.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities had been reported at three nearby nuclear power plants following the quake.

Shinkansen bullet trains and local train services in Kyushu were temporarily suspended as a precaution while safety checks were carried out.

The Japanese Defence Ministry dispatched aircraft to survey the affected area and assess the situation.

The earthquake struck at a depth of about 10 kilometres (6 miles) below the sea surface, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Kumamoto was devastated by a series of powerful earthquakes in 2016 that killed more than 50 people, injured about 1,800 and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes.