A powerful earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami advisory for coastal areas….reports Asian Lite News Desk
A powerful earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami advisory for parts of the country’s southwest and urging residents to move away from coastal areas.
Japan’s Cabinet Office Disaster Management Division said the earthquake registered the maximum seismic intensity of 7 in the Kumamoto region, the highest level on the country’s seismic intensity scale.
In a statement posted on X, the Cabinet Office urged residents to remain calm and rely on official information.
“An earthquake occurred in the Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture, registering a maximum seismic intensity of 7. Residents in areas where the shaking was strong, in addition to information from the national government and local authorities, please check reliable sources such as television, radio, and the internet, and act calmly,” the statement said.
Authorities also issued a tsunami advisory for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea.
“[Tsunami Advisory] 16:29 JST on 28 Jul 2026, A tsunami advisory has been issued for Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea. Leave coastal areas immediately and stay away until the advisory is lifted,” the Cabinet Office said.
According to India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake measured magnitude 6.5 and struck at 12:57:22 IST. Its epicentre was located at latitude 32.643°N and longitude 130.985°E, at a depth of 70 kilometres.
The NCS said in a post on X: “EQ of M: 6.5, On: 28/07/2026 12:57:22 IST, Lat: 32.643 N, Long: 130.985 E, Depth: 70 Km, Location: Japan.”
Local media reported that the quake produced a seismic intensity of lower 6 on Japan’s Shindo scale in the cities of Yatsushiro and Uto, the towns of Mashiki and Misato, and Kumamoto City’s Minami Ward.
The earthquake disrupted electricity supply to about 45,600 households in Kumamoto Prefecture, according to Kyushu Electric.
The latest tremor struck just over a decade after the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes of April 2016, which killed 278 people and injured around 2,800 others. The disaster caused widespread destruction across the prefecture, including severe damage to the historic Kumamoto Castle, where restoration work is expected to continue until 2052.
Authorities continued to monitor the situation and urged residents to follow evacuation guidance and official updates while the tsunami advisory remained in effect.
