7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan's Kyushu island

On the morning of Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck the island of Kyushu in Japan. Authorities issued a tsunami warning for waves up to one meter high, affecting the regions of Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki. Following the main shock, three aftershocks ranging between 3.8 and 4.5 in magnitude were recorded within 10 minutes.

Immediate response measures include the suspension of train services by JR Kyushu. Meanwhile, the operator Kyushu Electric Power reported no technical issues or malfunctions at the Sendai and Genkai nuclear power plants. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) confirmed that there is no tsunami threat for Hawaii or American Samoa.

Japan is one of the world's most seismically active regions, experiencing tremors frequently. The area hit by this earthquake carries a history of significant damage, notably in 2016 when a similarly powerful event resulted in 50 deaths, 1,800 injuries, and extensive destruction of housing infrastructure. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the tsunami alert remains in effect for the affected coastal prefectures.