Overview
- The quake registered magnitude 7.1 and produced the highest Japan Meteorological Agency shaking level, JMA intensity 7, in Kumamoto on Aug. 12, triggering a large aftershock sequence.
- Official tallies reported 39 deaths, 357 injuries, and 1,252 houses completely destroyed, with thousands more homes partially damaged and classifications still being revised.
- Kumamoto prefecture reported 3,585 evacuees at 81 shelters after local municipalities reconciled counts down from an earlier estimate of about 6,000.
- Seismic activity remained intense with 624 aftershocks of JMA intensity 1 or greater recorded by mid-afternoon on Aug. 12 and a separate M4.9 event near the Amakusa–Ashikita area at about 13:05.
- Authorities say the Hinagu fault zone was mainly involved and estimate a 30–40 km source fault length, a finding that shapes hazard assessments and explains why continued utility outages and recovery delays are likely.