Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Southern Japan, Tsunami Advisory Issued

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami advisory, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The agency said the quake generated a tsunami advisory warning of waves of up to 1 meter (3.3 feet).

Japan's government also issued emergency earthquake alerts for the prefectures of Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki, all located on the country's southwestern island of Kyushu, Japan's second most populous island.

Authorities urged residents in affected coastal areas to remain alert and follow official safety instructions while emergency services assessed the situation.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage, and officials were continuing to monitor the impact of the earthquake and the potential tsunami risk.