A powerful Japan earthquake has struck the southern island of Kyushu today. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake Japan event hit Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at approximately 1:18 PM IST. The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed the epicentre was 10 kilometres below the sea surface. Japan earthquake news reports say buildings have collapsed and many people have been injured. A tsunami warning was also issued for coastal areas across seven prefectures in Kyushu.Key HighlightsA 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern Kyushu island on July 28, 2026Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed injuries and building collapses in the regionA tsunami warning for waves of up to one metre was issued for coastal residents across seven prefecturesNo abnormalities were reported at nuclear power plants after the earthquake struck southwestern JapanWhat Happened and WhereThe Japan earthquake today hit Kumamoto prefecture on the southern main island of Kyushu. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the epicentre was at a depth of 10 kilometres below the sea surface, making it a very shallow and powerful quake. Shallow earthquakes cause much more damage on the surface than deeper ones.Japan earthquake news from broadcaster NHK confirmed that waves of up to one metre from the tsunami warning may already have been recorded along some coastal areas. Residents in all coastal zones were urged immediately to move to higher ground and follow all official evacuation instructions from local authorities.Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the early damage reports:"Injuries have been reported and a building has collapsed in the region. The government has instructed authorities to prioritise human life above all else and spare no effort in emergency disaster response."Seven Prefectures Under Emergency WarningThe Japanese government issued emergency earthquake warnings for seven prefectures across Kyushu. The earthquake injuries Japan reports came from Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures. All seven are located on Japan's southern Kyushu island.The building collapse Japan reports confirmed that structural damage had already been recorded. The prime minister's office instructed all relevant authorities to assess the full scale of damage as quickly as possible.Nuclear Plants SafeDespite the powerful seismic activity Japan event, the Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed no immediate abnormalities were reported at any nuclear power plants after the earthquake struck southwestern Japan. This was a major relief given Japan's history with the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster following a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.Japan and EarthquakesThis natural disaster Japan event is the country's second major quake in just one week. A 7.2 magnitude quake hit northern Japan on June 25 but caused no deaths or major damage. Japan is one of the world's most seismically active countries. It sits on top of four major tectonic plates along the Pacific Ring of Fire and accounts for about 18 percent of all earthquakes worldwide. The country is home to around 125 million people and experiences hundreds of tremors every year of varying intensity.Also Read : Africa Faces B Loss From Super El Niño
