A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu Island in southern Japan, forcing authorities to issue an evacuation order for around 300,000 residents. The preliminary toll points to at least 50 injured, while damage to buildings, roads and bridges has also been reported.
Mass evacuation after strong tremors
According to the emergency management agency, around 300,000 people have been ordered to go to evacuation centers after the earthquake struck the area. The measure shows the scale of the alarm raised by authorities after the strong tremors in the south of the country.
The earthquake was recorded in the afternoon local time and affected a seismically sensitive area, where the institutional response is usually activated quickly to limit the risk to the population.
Epicenter near Kumamoto
According to the reported data, the epicenter of the earthquake was around 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto, the largest city on the central island of Kyushu, with around 700,000 residents.
Its proximity to a major urban center makes the situation more delicate, especially when the damage includes not only homes and buildings, but also road infrastructure and bridges.
At least 50 injured and infrastructure damage
The official version speaks of at least 50 people injured by the 6.8-magnitude earthquake. Damage to buildings, roads and bridges has also been reported, adding pressure on emergency services and field inspections.
In such cases, the toll of damage and injuries often remains subject to change in the first hours, while the responsible structures continue checks in the hardest-hit areas.
Warning of more tremors and landslides
An official from the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that residents in the areas where the strongest shaking was felt should remain on alert for other possible strong earthquakes for about a week.
According to the Japanese authorities, there is also a risk of landslides, a threat that usually increases after strong seismic shocks and could further complicate the situation in the affected areas.
Japanese authorities have called for heightened vigilance in the hardest-hit areas, while the real consequences of the earthquake are expected to become clearer through field inspections and a full assessment of the damage.