Magnitude 7.1 earthquake hits Japan’s Kyushu region, JMA says

TOKYO, Japan – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

A tsunami warning for a wave measuring 1 meter (3.28 feet) was issued after the earthquake, the JMA said.

The Japanese government issued emergency earthquake warnings for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures, all on Japan’s southern Kyushu island.

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, with a tremor occurring at least every five minutes. Located along the “Ring of Fire” of volcanoes and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin, Japan accounts for about 20% of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or more.

Kyushu Electric Power said there were no reports of irregularities at its Sendai and Genkai nuclear power stations after the earthquake.

Train operator JR Kyushu said that it has suspended services, including its high-speed Shinkansen trains following the quake. – Rappler.com