Seismic Shock in Kumamoto Triggers Tsunami Alerts for Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas

At 4:27 p.m. local time on Tuesday, a strong seismic event measuring 7.1 on the Japanese scale struck Kumamoto Prefecture in the southwest of the country. The tremor’s focus lay 10 km below the ground, causing significant shaking in Kumamoto City and the town of Hikawa.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for the adjacent Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, forecasting waves that could rise to roughly one metre. Residents were instructed to stay clear of coastal areas and to heed all directions from local authorities.

Prime Minister Sunaye Takichi posted a message on X, confirming that the cabinet had activated an emergency coordination hub and summoned senior officials from relevant ministries to manage rescue, relief and damage‑assessment operations. The agency also recalled a June 26 quake of magnitude 5.6 in Yamanashi Prefecture, which resulted in ten lightly injured persons and had a depth of around 20 km.