Earthquake Strikes Southwest Japan, Causing Injuries and Fires

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook southwest Japan on Tuesday afternoon. This event led to injuries and fires near its epicenter, as reported by Japan’s state broadcaster.

The earthquake occurred at 4:27 p.m. local time, prompting a tsunami warning from the U.S. National Weather Service. The alert was lifted shortly after. According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake’s epicenter was near Uto, a coastal city in Kumamoto Prefecture. Initially, the quake was reported as having a 7.1 magnitude, but the figure was later revised down.

Kumamoto experienced numerous injuries and fires, as broadcasted by NHK. Footage from the area showed intense shaking and smoke emanating from residential buildings.

The Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu quickly issued a warning just after 4:30 p.m. Japan time. However, it clarified that there was no tsunami risk for Hawaii, the Pacific islands, or the West Coast. By 5:14 p.m. local time, the tsunami threat had subsided.

A decade ago, Kumamoto suffered from a powerful series of earthquakes, resulting in 278 fatalities throughout the prefecture and nearby regions.

On Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for the coastal areas around the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas. It anticipated lifting the advisory soon. The agency also cautioned residents about potential aftershocks of similar magnitude in the coming days.

For Kumamoto’s residents, the earthquake revives distressing memories of the deadly events that struck the area ten years ago.

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