A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning and emergency earthquake alerts across the island of Kyushu.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), tsunami waves of up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) were expected to reach parts of the coastline following the quake, with residents in affected coastal areas urged to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions if necessary.

The Japanese government issued emergency earthquake warnings for seven prefectures on Kyushu—Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki—as emergency response teams assessed the situation.

Despite the strength of the quake, Kyushu Electric Power reported no abnormalities at its Sendai and Genkai nuclear power plants, easing immediate concerns over the safety of critical infrastructure.

Transportation across the region was also disrupted, with railway operator JR Kyushu suspending train services, including its high-speed Shinkansen bullet trains, while inspections of tracks and facilities were carried out.

Authorities said there were no immediate reports of fatalities, injuries, or significant structural damage, though inspections were continuing as aftershocks remained possible.

Emergency management officials urged residents to stay away from coastal areas until the tsunami advisory is lifted and to monitor official updates for further instructions.

Japan is among the world's most seismically active nations due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region where several tectonic plates converge. The country experiences frequent earthquakes, with tremors occurring regularly and accounting for roughly 20% of the world's earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.0 or greater.

Seismologists have long warned that Japan's geographical position makes it highly vulnerable to powerful earthquakes and tsunamis, prompting the country to maintain one of the world's most advanced earthquake monitoring and disaster response systems. (ILKHA)