Japan’s civil and disaster management authorities declared a general evacuation and tsunami warning after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the southern primary island Kyushu’s Kumamoto prefecture.
The epicentre of the earthquake was found to be 10 kilometres beneath the ocean floor, indicating it was a shallow tremor and was able to trigger a strong earthquake.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that injuries were reported and at least one building collapsed after the strong tremor. Emergency-related personnel have been deployed to see the level of damages and to help affected residents.
Tsunami waves capable of reaching up to one metre (3.28 feet) were warned in coastal areas by the JMA. Those living close to the coast were advised to go to high ground and were given strict instructions to evacuate by local authorities.
NHK, the public broadcaster said that waves nearing the anticipated size are likely to have been captured in certain coastal areas.
The government’s various agencies for disaster management were ordered to immediately attend to the damage assessment, in order of priority, rescue operations and protection of human life, by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The national authorities also said there were no immediate faults found at the country’s nuclear power plants after the tremor. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said that they are conducting inspections but have not yet seen any “signs of damage” to their nuclear sites.
Japan’s current position on the Pacific Ring of Fire (Pacific Seismogenic Belt), as an island straddling the boundaries of the Pacific tectonic plate, means it continues to have high earthquake and tsunami risks and is well supplied with emergency preparedness measures.