A magnitude 7.1 earthquake, later revised to 6.8 by the USGS, struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28, 2026, just before 4:30 PM local time with an epicenter approximately 20 km south of Kumamoto. A tsunami advisory was issued for western coasts and lifted within two hours; dozens of injuries were reported alongside unverified claims of deaths and structural damage at Aeon Mall Kumamoto.