A strong earthquake struck Kumamoto on Japan's southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday afternoon, causing widespread damage and dozens of injuries, though officials found no major public infrastructure damage. The quake prompted a temporary tsunami advisory, the suspension of train services, and airport closures, evoking memories of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquake that killed more than 50 people.

The US Geological Survey initially measured the quake at magnitude 7.1, later revising it down to 6.8, with an epicentre roughly 560 miles southwest of Tokyo. Around 40 people were hospitalised in Yatsushiro city, where a train derailed, while Kumamoto Castle suffered damage to its stone walls alongside collapsed roof tiles, fires and blackouts elsewhere. A tsunami advisory covering four prefectures was lifted within two hours after no waves materialised, Shinkansen and local trains were halted for safety checks, and Aso Kumamoto Airport closed its runway indefinitely. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi set up a government task force, nuclear regulators confirmed no issues at nearby plants, and authorities warned of possible aftershocks over the following two to three days.