Japan: Magnitude 5.8 earthquake strikes Kumamoto Prefecture, emergency warning issued

KUMAMOTO, Japan — A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Wednesday, July 29, at approximately 10:19 p.m. local time, prompting an Emergency Earthquake Warning from Japanese authorities.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Amakusa area at a very shallow depth, increasing the intensity of shaking felt near the epicenter.

There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties. Authorities are assessing the situation as aftershocks remain possible.

The latest earthquake follows the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kyushu a day earlier, with seismologists continuing to warn that additional strong earthquakes could occur in the region.