A pair of strong earthquakes struck Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon, disrupting transport networks, sparking fires, and leaving over 48,000 households without power.
The first quake, magnitude 7.1, hit near Uto in Kumamoto Prefecture at 4:27 p. m.
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local time at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey and local authorities.
A second tremor of magnitude 6.1 followed 45 minutes later, after nine smaller aftershocks.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued temporary tsunami advisories for coastal areas including Ariake Bay.
Structural damage forced the indefinite closure of the runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport.
JR Kyushu Railway Company suspended all local and Shinkansen bullet train services, and sections of the Kyushu Expressway suffered major alignment issues and gaps.
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Despite the damage and reported fires, regional nuclear facilities reported no operational issues. The Nuclear Regulation Authority stated, "No abnormalities were found at three nearby nuclear power plants."
Kyushu Electric Power confirmed normal operations at its Sendai and Genkai plants.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convened emergency response units in Tokyo, saying, "We are putting people's lives as the top priority."
She urged residents in strongly-shaken areas to remain cautious due to potential aftershocks.
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Local authorities warned that active seismic activity could trigger additional strong earthquakes over the next two to three days.
