The quake knocked out power to thousands of homes, stopped rail services and triggered warnings for tsunamis and aftershocks.

Thousands of homes are without power, and a tsunami warning was issued after an earthquake shook Japan's southern Kyushu island.

An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 has shaken Kumamoto on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu.

A tsunami warning for a wave measuring 1m was issued after the earthquake, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, triggering a tsunami warning and emergency alerts across southern Kyushu.