7.1-magnitude earthquake hits Japan’s Kyushu:Tsunami alert issued, people urged to stay away from the coast

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) measuring the quake at Shindo 7, the highest level on Japan’s seismic intensity scale. The earthquake triggered emergency warnings across parts of southern Japan. The JMA issued a tsunami warning after the quake, forecasting waves of up to 1 metre (3.28 feet). Residents in coastal areas were advised to remain alert and follow safety instructions. Emergency alerts issued scross Kyushu The Japanese government issued earthquake warnings for seven prefectures on Kyushu island- Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki. Emergency services were placed on standby as authorities assessed possible damage and monitored the situation for aftershocks. Japan monitors situation after strong quake The JMA continued tracking seismic activity after the earthquake and urged people in affected areas to remain cautious. Located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries and has advanced warning systems and disaster preparedness measures to respond to major seismic events. 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami In 2011, a massive 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s eastern coast near the Oshika Peninsula at a depth of around 24 km, triggering one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country’s history. More than 15,000 people were killed, while over 2,000 remain missing, according to the National Police Agency. The powerful quake caused severe shaking across northeastern Japan. Around 20 minutes later, tsunami waves hit parts of Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south, causing widespread destruction. The tsunami later struck the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where seawater inundation led to reactor meltdowns and explosions. The disaster resulted in the release of radioactive material, causing nuclear contamination concerns and forcing Japan to shut down its nuclear power plants for nearly three years. Separately, historical records note that India’s first modern ship, “Jalusha,” built at the Scindia Shipyard in Visakhapatnam, was commissioned on March 11, 1948, in the presence of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. March 11 also marks several significant global events across history, including major incidents such as the 2004 Madrid train bombings in Spain that killed 190 people, political milestones like Lithuania’s declaration of independence in 1990, and other notable developments in science, politics, and sports over the years.