Japan on Tuesday issued a tsunami warning after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s southern region, triggering widespread power outages and raising fears of aftershocks.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake occurred at 4:27 p.m. local time and registered the highest possible intensity of seven on the country’s Shindo seismic scale.
The agency warned that the quake could generate tsunami waves of up to one metre and urged residents in affected coastal areas to remain vigilant.
Although there were no immediate reports of casualties, the earthquake disrupted electricity supply to tens of thousands of homes. Local utility company Kyushu Electric Power said about 45,000 households and other facilities in the Kumamoto region were left without power following the tremor.
Despite the strong shaking, the company confirmed that the three nuclear reactors operating in the region continued to function normally.
The quake was also felt inside the newsroom of public broadcaster NHK, where a reporter delivering a live broadcast described the intensity of the shaking.
Wearing a safety helmet during the live report, the journalist said the tremors were so severe that remaining on his feet was difficult.
“Shaking is continuing as I speak. Including myself, there may be some people who feel their hearts racing,” he said.
He added that when the earthquake struck, the shaking was so intense that he was unable to stand, while urging residents to remain alert as aftershocks could continue.