An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, cutting power to thousands of homes, halting rail service and prompting warnings for both tsunamis and aftershocks.
Several major companies, including Sony and TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, operate manufacturing facilities in the affected area. A Sony spokesperson said the company was assessing the situation, while TSMC had not immediately responded to a request for comment.
Japan’s government issued emergency earthquake warnings covering Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures, all located on the southern island of Kyushu. The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued a tsunami warning for a wave measuring roughly one meter following the quake.
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Japan sits among the most earthquake-prone nations in the world, experiencing a tremor on average every five minutes. Positioned along the Ring of Fire, the arc of volcanoes and oceanic trenches partially encircling the Pacific Basin, the country accounts for roughly 20% of all magnitude 6.0-or-greater earthquakes recorded globally.
A devastating earthquake struck Kumamoto a decade ago, killing 275 people and injuring another 2,739, according to official figures.
Kyushu Electric Power reported that approximately 40,000 homes lost electricity as a result of Tuesday’s quake, while rail operator JR Kyushu suspended service, including its high-speed bullet trains. Japan’s nuclear regulatory authority said no irregularities had been reported at nuclear power stations in the region.
