A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southern Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a tsunami warning, collapsing buildings, and causing an explosion at a shopping mall where several people are feared dead. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has urged residents to stay alert for further strong aftershocks. Background Japan sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year, accounting for roughly 18 to 20 percent of the world’s seismic activity. Most tremors cause little to no damage, but the country remains acutely aware of the…
Read MoreJapan Earthquake Today: Magnitude 7.1 Quake Hits Kumamoto, Tsunami Warning Issued
