The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there have been no reports so far of damage or safety issues at nearby nuclear power plants after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's Kyushu island.
On the 28th, the IAEA said on X (formerly Twitter), "Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) informed us that the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, about 100 kilometers from the epicenter, has reported no damage or safety problems from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake, and the plant is currently operating normally."
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, "We will continue to monitor the situation."
Earlier that afternoon, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near Uki in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's Kyushu. The Japan Meteorological Agency said powerful shaking of up to intensity 7 was observed in parts of Kumamoto, and it issued then lifted a tsunami advisory for the western Kyushu coast.
The quake caused part of the second floor of the large complex shopping mall "Aeon Mall Kumamoto" in Kashima, Kumamoto prefecture, to collapse, leaving many shoppers trapped as fire authorities carried out rescue operations. In nearby areas including Hikawa, dozens were injured, and fires, power outages, and traffic disruptions continued in multiple locations.
However, the Japanese government said no abnormalities have been reported so far at key national infrastructure such as nuclear power plants and petrochemical facilities. At the Kikuyo plant in Kumamoto prefecture that houses JASM, the Japan production subsidiary of TSMC, the world's largest foundry, employees were evacuated under emergency procedures and facility safety checks are underway, with no damage confirmed to date.
The Japanese government set up a task force at the prime minister's office to compile damage reports while maintaining vigilance against potential secondary disasters such as aftershocks and landslides.