Several people sustained injuries and infrastructure suffered damage after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday.
The tremor hit Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, prompting authorities to issue tsunami advisories for the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas. The alerts covered the western coastal areas of Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Saga prefectures, about 900 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.
However, the tsunami warnings were withdrawn less than two hours later after officials confirmed that no tsunami had occurred.
Although the full extent of the casualties was not immediately known, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said preliminary reports indicated several people had been injured. She added that roads, bridges and buildings were damaged, while some areas experienced power outages and fires.
”Our top priority is protecting people’s lives,” AFP quoted the prime minister as saying.
Ms Takaichi also urged residents in the affected regions to remain vigilant, warning that strong aftershocks could occur over the next two to three days.
The latest earthquake comes years after Kumamoto was devastated by a major quake that killed about 50 people and left many others seriously injured.