7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes southern Japan, tsunami alerts later lifted

A powerful earthquake struck southern Japan on Tuesday, testing the country's disaster response systems and tsunami warning infrastructure. Japan Meteorological Agency registered the quake at magnitude 7.1, while the U.S. Geological Survey recorded 6.8, per CBS News. The earthquake was centered near the city of Kumamoto, about 600 miles south of Tokyo, in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Authorities issued a tsunami alert forecasting waves of about one yard in height, but lifted it after the initial assessment, according to CBS News reporting. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to avoid coastlines due to the risk of possible tsunami waves and cautioned against complacency regarding possible strong aftershocks. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported no tsunami threat to Hawaii or American Samoa.

The government response was rapid and precautionary. High-speed Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains in Kyushu were suspended temporarily for safety checks, per the reporting. The government established a task force to assess possible damage and prepare for any required rescue operations. Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency received no immediate reports of damage to major public facilities or infrastructure in the region, though assessments were still underway. No serious casualties or abnormalities at nuclear power plants in the region were reported.

The temblor measured at the highest possible level of seven on Japan's Shindo scale, the country's seismic intensity measurement system. The relatively modest damage reports reflect both the depth and distance of the epicenter and Japan's building codes and early warning systems, though full damage assessments continued hours after the quake struck.