Japan Rocked by 6.8 Magnitude Earthquake: Tokyo: A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, triggering panic across the southern Kyushu region. The strong tremors caused the second floor of a shopping mall in Kashima City to collapse, with officials fearing that more than 50 people may be trapped under the debris. Several injuries have also been reported as rescue operations continue.
Japan Rocked by 6.8 Magnitude Earthquake
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake hit at 4:27 PM (local time) with its epicenter located 10 kilometers below the surface, around 900 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. A tsunami warning was issued immediately after the quake but was lifted about an hour later after authorities determined there was no major tsunami threat.
The IAEA has been informed by Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) that today’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake caused no damage or safety issues at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, located around 100 km from the epicentre, and that it remains in operation.
The IAEA will continue… pic.twitter.com/25E1AYQHnE— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) July 28, 2026
Following the Japan earthquake today, authorities ordered the evacuation of over 150,000 residents across parts of Kyushu Island. People have been moved to emergency shelters as a precaution while rescue teams continue search and relief operations in the affected areas.
Live visuals aired by NHK showed collapsed structures, cracked roads, damaged bridges, fires in several buildings, and widespread destruction. Emergency responders, firefighters, and disaster response teams have been deployed to locate survivors trapped beneath the collapsed shopping mall and assess the full extent of the damage.
No Damage Reported at Sendai Nuclear Power Plant
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant has not suffered any damage following the earthquake. The IAEA also confirmed on X that it is closely monitoring the situation.
Japan Earthquake Today
The update comes amid concerns due to Japan’s history of major earthquakes. In 2011, the devastating 9.1 magnitude Great East Japan Earthquake and the resulting tsunami triggered the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, making nuclear plant safety a key focus whenever strong earthquakes strike the country.
