An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, knocking out power to thousands of homes, stopping rail services and briefly triggering 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.

7.1-magnitude earthquake hits southwest Japan

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.