Magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes Kumamoto, Japan issues tsunami advisory

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a tsunami advisory for coastal areas of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea.

The earthquake occurred shortly before 4:30pm local time, with the JMA recording the event at 4:27pm Japan Standard Time (JST). The agency placed the epicentre in the Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at a depth of just over six miles, or approximately 10 kilometres. The JMA's own tsunami forecast map similarly recorded the depth at 10 kilometres.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the shaking lasted for around one minute, a duration that would have been felt strongly across the surrounding region of Kyushu.

Following the earthquake, the JMA issued a tsunami advisory, its second-lowest alert level, covering the coastlines of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea. These are two enclosed bodies of water bordering Kumamoto and neighbouring prefectures.

A broader tsunami forecast, indicating the possibility of slight sea level changes rather than a more serious threat, was also issued for a wider stretch of coastline. This includes areas along the western and northern coasts of Kyushu, according to the JMA's tsunami forecast map.