On 28 July 2026 at 16:27 JST (07:27 UTC), a major magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, generating a maximum seismic intensity of 7 on the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) scale. The powerful ground shaking caused casualties, extensive damage to homes, commercial buildings, and public infrastructure, and triggered numerous aftershocks.
Roads and bridges were damaged, transportation networks—including Shinkansen and conventional rail services—were disrupted, and power outages affected tens of thousands of households. The earthquake also caused significant disruption to daily life across the affected region.
Authorities issued evacuation orders for hundreds of thousands of residents due to the continuing aftershocks and the risk of landslides. Emergency response teams, including the Japan Self-Defense Forces, were deployed to conduct search-and-rescue operations and provide assistance to affected communities.
