M7.1 Earthquake Hits Japan, Cuts Power

A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday, triggering a tsunami warning, disrupting power supplies and suspending rail services across parts of Kyushu.

Japan's Meteorological Agency initially issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to one meter but later lifted the alert after no tsunami activity was detected. The agency said the quake registered the highest level on Japan's Shindo seismic intensity scale, with the epicenter located in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Emergency earthquake alerts were issued for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures. The affected region is home to major manufacturing facilities, including plants operated by Sony and chipmaker TSMC.

Kyushu Electric Power said around 40,000 households lost electricity, while JR Kyushu suspended rail services, including high-speed bullet trains.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the earthquake caused multiple injuries, fires, building collapses and damage to roads and bridges, with authorities continuing to assess the full extent of the destruction.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that a hospital in Kumamoto treated more than 50 injured people. At least 12 houses collapsed, with several people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

Japan's nuclear regulator said no abnormalities had been detected at nuclear facilities, while Kyushu Electric confirmed that all three nuclear reactors in the region were operating normally.