7.1 earthquake shakes southwest Japan and triggers tsunami warning By Carolina Costa
2 min read
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An intense 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook southwestern Japan on July 28, 2026, prompting tsunami warnings and urgent evacuation recommendations for millions of residents. The epicenter of the tremor was located in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu.
Alerts issued and regions affected by the earthquake
- Kumamoto
- Nagasaki
- Kagoshima
- Fukuoka
- Saga
- Oita
- Miyazaki
Safety check at nuclear facilities
Immediately after the earthquake, authorities began rigorous checks on the region’s strategic infrastructure. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority reassured the population by reporting that no immediate anomalies were detected at any of the nuclear facilities close to the epicenter of the quake.
The company Kyushu Electric Power, responsible for supplying energy in the southwest of the country, confirmed that its three reactors in operation continued to operate normally, with no problems reported at the Sendai and Genkai nuclear plants.
Disruptions to transport and energy supply
The impacts of the earthquake extended to the transport system and energy distribution. Railway operator JR Kyushu has suspended several services, including the Shinkansen bullet train lines, to carry out safety assessments on tracks and stations. Furthermore, around 45,000 properties in Kumamoto Prefecture were left without electricity after the seismic event.
Japan in the fire belt and its constant preparation
Located in the Pacific Belt of Fire, Japan is one of the nations most exposed to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the world. The archipelago, with 125 million inhabitants, accounts for around 20% of all earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater recorded globally.
For this reason, the country invests in one of the most advanced systems for seismic monitoring, tsunami warnings and response to natural disasters, recording, on average, a noticeable tremor every few minutes.
Memories of devastating tremors in the past
The memory of past seismic events still marks the Japanese nation. In March 2011, a 9.0 magnitude underwater earthquake struck the Tohoku region, triggering a tsunami that resulted in the deaths or disappearances of approximately 18,500 people and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
More recently, on April 20, 2020, a 7.7 magnitude tremor was recorded in northern Japan, injuring at least ten people and causing tall buildings to shake in the capital, Tokyo.
To date, Japanese authorities have not released information on casualties or the full extent of material damage caused by the earthquake. Emergency teams remain mobilized and continue to assess the situation in the most affected areas.
