A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southwest Japan on Tuesday afternoon. The tremor caused injuries and fires near its epicenter, as reported by Japan’s state broadcaster.
Details of the Earthquake
The earthquake hit at 4:27 p.m. local time. Following the quake, the U.S. National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning, later retracted. The United States Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter near Uto in Kumamoto Prefecture. The agency initially marked it as a 7.1-magnitude quake before lowering it to 6.8.
Impact and Immediate Aftermath
Numerous injuries and fires were reported across Kumamoto, according to the public broadcaster NHK. Footage revealed intense shaking in various cities and smoke rising from homes.
The National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning Center, based in Honolulu, issued a tsunami warning just after 4:30 p.m. Japan time. However, it confirmed no tsunami threat to Hawaii, the Pacific islands, or the West Coast. By 5:14 p.m. local time, the tsunami threat was declared passed.
Historical Context and Advisory
Kumamoto experienced a significant series of earthquakes 10 years prior, resulting in 278 fatalities across the prefecture and nearby areas. Following Tuesday’s quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued a tsunami advisory for regions around the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas. They indicated the advisory would likely be lifted soon. The agency also cautioned that similar scale quakes could occur in the subsequent days.
For Kumamoto residents, this temblor resurrects distressing memories of the catastrophic earthquake series a decade ago.
Image Credit: Taro Karibe/Getty Images
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