Japan earthquake: Stone wall of 419-year-old Kumamoto Castle collapses during 7.1 earthquake | Viral Video | Today’s news
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto on Japan’s main island of Kyushu late Tuesday afternoon, causing damage and injuries. A tsunami warning was temporarily issued and lifted within two hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The US Geological Survey initially reported the earthquake as 7.1, but later revised it down to 6.8.
The earthquake was so strong that a large part of Kumamoto Castle’s 419-year-old historic stone walls collapsed. The collapse of the wall created a massive cloud of dust near the trench.
The incident was captured on video and has since been widely circulated on social media. The 2026 event reflects the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake that previously damaged the castle.
The Japanese Prime Minister reacts
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a message posted on X that her government had set up a task force to gather information, assess possible damage and prepare for rescue operations if necessary.
Takaichi later told reporters that there were reports of injuries and damage to roads, bridges and buildings, as well as power outages and fires, although details remained unclear. Takaichi warned people to be careful of fire and shards of broken glass.
40 injured
According to Kyodo News, a hospital in the city of Jacushiro treated about 40 people injured in the earthquake. A train derailed and fell to one side at Yatsushiro Station, and stone walls were damaged at Kumamoto Castle, Kyodo said.
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said no damage to major public facilities and infrastructure was reported, although authorities were still assessing the extent of the damage. Local firefighters received many emergency calls reporting fires and damage to homes.
“We are putting people’s lives as the highest priority,” Takaichi said, urging residents in severely shaken areas to be cautious in light of possible aftershocks.
Shinji Kiyomoto, JMA’s earthquake and tsunami planning officer, told a news conference that the shallow earthquake had triggered active seismic activity in the area and urged residents to be especially cautious in the next two to three days. However, he said no tsunami was observed from the inland earthquake.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority said no abnormalities were found at three nearby nuclear power plants.
Shinkansen and local trains to Kyushu were suspended for security checks, while the runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was closed, with “no prospect of resuming operations,” according to an announcement on the airport’s website.
Kumamoto was hit by a deadly earthquake in 2016 that left more than 50 dead, 1,800 injured and tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed.
