7.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Southern Japan; Tsunami Alert Withdrawn

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kyushu island on Tuesday at 4:27 p.m., causing building collapses, fires, and power outages for 45,000 households in the Kumamoto region.

Broadcaster NHK reported at least 50 people were hospitalised and 12 houses collapsed, while emergency services responded to reports of people trapped in a damaged shopping mall in Kashima.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert for several prefectures but withdrew the warning by 6:10 p.m. after observing no abnormal sea level changes.