Earthquakes strike Japan, Mexico and China; tsunami warning issued in southern Japan

Tokyo, Japan. Powerful earthquakes struck Japan, Mexico and China within hours of one another on Tuesday, prompting a tsunami warning in southern Japan and emergency responses in parts of Asia.

The strongest quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

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Japan response

A tsunami warning for waves of up to one metre was issued after the earthquake.

The Japanese government issued emergency earthquake warnings for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures on the southern island of Kyushu.

Kyushu Electric Power said there were no reports of irregularities at its Sendai and Genkai nuclear power stations.

Train operator JR Kyushu suspended services, including high-speed Shinkansen trains, following the quake. There were no immediate details of casualties or damage.

Earthquake risk

Japan is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, with a tremor occurring at least every five minutes.

Located on the Ring of Fire, a belt of volcanoes and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin, Japan accounts for about 20 per cent of earthquakes worldwide with a magnitude of 6.0 or higher.

Mexico earthquake

In Mexico, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near the coast of Puerto Madero early on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The quake occurred at a depth of 35 kilometres. No immediate reports of casualties or damage were available.