Aftershocks continue since magnitude 7.1 quake strikes Japan's Kumamoto

TOKYO -- Over ten aftershocks have been recorded in southwestern Japan since a magnitude 7.1 struck the country's Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

As of 5:20 pm local time, 15 aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.1 temblor, have rocked the country's southwestern region, after the powerful quake, measuring max 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, hit Kumamoto Prefecture at around 4:27 pm local time, the weather agency said.

All train services, including Shinkansen bullet and local trains, were halted in the Kyushu region after the quake, Kyodo News reported.

No abnormalities were found at nuclear power plants in the region, it added.

According to the JMA, this is the first time seismic intensity 7 has been recorded in Japan since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January 2024. It is also the first time Kumamoto Prefecture has recorded a seismic intensity of 7 since the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, during which intensity 7 was observed twice.

A tsunami warning of one meter has been issued for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea in southwestern Japan.