A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan’s Kyushu region on Tuesday afternoon, damaging infrastructure, triggering localized fires, and prompting emergency tsunami advisories.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the shallow quake struck shortly before 4:30 p.m. local time near Kumamoto Prefecture. The tremors registered at the highest intensity level on Japan’s seismic scale, shaking buildings across multiple prefectures for over a minute and causing widespread disruption.

The agency immediately issued tsunami advisories for coastal areas along the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas, warning of potential waves up to one meter. While the tsunami warnings were later lifted, officials urged residents to remain vigilant for strong aftershocks expected over the coming days.

Emergency response teams were deployed following reports of collapsed buildings, severed power lines, and damaged roads. In Kumamoto, fire crews responded to a partial structural collapse and explosion at a local shopping mall, where rescue operations quickly underway. Local authorities reported tens of thousands of homes lost electricity, and regional transit was halted as bullet trains were suspended and nearby airport runways closed for safety evaluations.

Major technology manufacturers operating in the region, including chipmaker TSMC and Sony, temporarily evacuated personnel and paused operations to assess facility security.

Japanese officials confirmed that nuclear power facilities in the area reported no irregularities and remain fully safe. Disastrous response agencies continue evaluating the full extent of casualties and structural damage across southern Japan.