The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday, centered in the Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu. The tremor reached the highest possible level of seven on Japan's Shindo scale, indicating significant shaking across the region. Authorities issued a tsunami alert for waves reaching up to one meter in height, which were expected to arrive around 5:00 p.m. Broadcaster NHK reported that waves of this magnitude may have already been recorded. While the earthquake was significant, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii or American Samoa. Japan remains one of the world's most seismically active countries, situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire.