Magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocks Japan, prompting tsunami advisory
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1:07 The exterior wall of a shop is seen collapsed in an earthquake, in Kumamoto City on July 28, 2026. JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images TOKYO and LONDON -- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked southern Japan on Tuesday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami advisory for the coasts of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea.
The earthquake struck Kyushu island, in the Kumamoto Prefecture, shortly before 4:30 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was about 6 miles below the island, which is the southernmost of the main Japanese islands, according to local and U.S. weather officials.
Reporters watch the news showing a large quake and possible one meter tsunami wave in Southern Japan, from an office in Tokyo on July 28, 2026. Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images The rumbling lasted for about a minute, according to Japan's NHK news, which broadcast images of apparent smoke or fire nearby.
The prefecture's airport, Kumamoto Airport, in Mashiki, suspended flights all flights shortly after the quake, according to a notice posted on its website.
The exterior wall of a shop is seen collapsed in an earthquake, in Kumamoto City on July 28, 2026. JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said in an emergency update that it had not recorded "abnormalities" at nearby facilities in Ikata, Genkai and Satsumasendai City.
Several thousand homes were without power following the quake, NHK reported.
Officials urged people to stay away from the ocean and the sea shore. They also warned residents to watch for possible landslides.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to the media at the Prime Minister's Office, in Tokyo after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit southern Japan on July 28, 2026. JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said strong shaking could be felt in both city of Uki and the town of Hikawa. She warned of potential tsunamis of about a meter, or just over 3 feet, near the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas.
"I urge residents in areas that experienced strong shaking to remain vigilant against the possibility of further earthquakes of similar magnitude," she said in a statement posted in Japanese on social media.
ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked southern Japan on Tuesday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami advisory for the coasts of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea.
The earthquake struck Kyushu island, in the Kumamoto Prefecture, shortly before 4:30 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was about 6 miles below the island, which is the southernmost of the main Japanese islands, according to local and U.S. weather officials.
The rumbling lasted for about a minute, according to Japan's NHK news, which broadcast images of apparent smoke or fire nearby.
The prefecture's airport, Kumamoto Airport, in Mashiki, suspended flights all flights shortly after the quake, according to a notice posted on its website.
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said in an emergency update that it had not recorded \"abnormalities\" at nearby facilities in Ikata, Genkai and Satsumasendai City.
Several thousand homes were without power following the quake, NHK reported.
Officials urged people to stay away from the ocean and the sea shore. They also warned residents to watch for possible landslides.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said strong shaking could be felt in both city of Uki and the town of Hikawa. She warned of potential tsunamis of about a meter, or just over 3 feet, near the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas.
\"I urge residents in areas that experienced strong shaking to remain vigilant against the possibility of further earthquakes of similar magnitude,\" she said in a statement posted in Japanese on social media.
ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
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