Power cuts and evacuations after 7.1 earthquake strikes Japan's Kyushu

TOKYO: A strong earthquake measuring a preliminary 7.1 magnitude struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, cutting electricity to about 40,000 homes, halting transport links and sending more than 150,000 people to evacuation centres as authorities assessed damage across Kyushu.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said injuries, fires and collapsed buildings had already been reported. She told reporters the full extent of casualties and property damage was still being checked, adding: "We have already been informed that people have been injured." She said, "Power outages and fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings. Above all, I ask everyone to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to a safe location."

Emergency earthquake warnings were issued for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures on Kyushu island. The Japan Meteorological Agency initially warned of a tsunami wave of one metre, but later lifted the advisory after saying no tsunami activity had been observed.

A spokesperson for the agency said, "This earthquake occurred inland, and no tsunami activity has been observed so far. For this reason, we hope to lift the tsunami advisory at a relatively early stage, depending on future sea level conditions." The agency also warned that residents in the hardest-hit areas should remain alert for strong aftershocks for about a week and for possible landslides.

Transport and communications disrupted

Rail operator JR Kyushu suspended services, including high-speed bullet trains, while Kumamoto airport closed its runway, forcing airlines to divert and cancel flights. Public broadcaster footage showed fires, collapsed structures, large cracks in roads and an elevated highway, as well as a derailed goods train.

Telecom operators KDDI and Docomo said mobile phone services were disrupted by power shortages and transmission-line failures.

Companies check damage

The quake also affected an area where major manufacturers operate. TSMC evacuated workers from its local plant as a precaution, a company spokesperson said, while Sony said it was checking conditions at its facility.

Japan's nuclear regulation authority said no irregularities had been reported at nuclear power stations in the area.

Japan is among the world's most earthquake-prone countries and accounts for about 20 per cent of earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or more. A major quake in Kumamoto 10 years ago killed 275 people and injured 2,739, while damaging thousands of buildings, including the city's castle.