On Tuesday, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, causing injuries to at least 50 people and knocking out power to approximately 40,000 homes. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported ongoing assessments of the damage, which included ruptured roads, fires, and the collapse of buildings, notably an Aeon shopping mall that experienced an explosion.
The quake also disrupted transportation, with rail services halted, flights canceled, and a goods train derailing. Major companies like TSMC, Sony, and Fujifilm evacuated staff from their facilities in the affected area. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued emergency warnings for several prefectures and advised residents to be cautious of aftershocks and landslides.
This earthquake underscores Japan's susceptibility to seismic activity, as the country experiences a tremor every five minutes on average, and raises concerns about potential economic repercussions in the region