Multiple people dead after massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocks Japan as urgent tsunami warning issued

Multiple people are dead after a 7.1 magnitude tremors rocked Japan, triggering an urgent tsunami warning.

The first major earthquake took place in the western region of Kumamoto, about 900km (540 miles) south west of Tokyo at 4.29pm local time (8.29am BST).

The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed the alert was in place for waves reaching up to a metre tall.

Kumamoto Fire Department said multiple people were left trapped inside Aeon Shopping Mall following the quake.

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Multiple deaths at the shopping centre have been confirmed following the explosion, Fuji TV reported.

At least 50 people are injured after the mammoth tremor killed power to thousands of homes and destroyed roads in the area.

Devastation was rampant, with building and roads destroyed, as well as derailed trains and wreckage strewn across the city.

Earlier today, the Government issued emergency earthquake warnings for prefectures across Kyushu island, including Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, Miyazaki and Kumamoto.

Residents have been told to evacuate coastal areas as a tsunami warning has been put in place across the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas.

The warning reads: "The sea and areas near the coast are dangerous. Please immediately move away from the coast.

"Also, until the advisory is lifted, do not enter the sea or approach the coast."

Following the initial tremors, rail services were brought to a standshill after train operator JR Kyushin suspended its entire services, including the famous Kyushu Shinkansen bullet trains.

Kyushu Electric Power confirmed they had not received any reports of abnormalities across its Sendai and Genkai nuclear power plants.

Japan is extremely prone to experiencing tremors, and is accountable for around 20 per cent of the world's largest earthquakes.

It is estimated the country records up to 100,000 total seismic events per year but only feels up to 2,000 of them.

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Usually, major earthquakes above a magnitude seven are recorded in Japan just once a year.

However, quakes of this magnitude appear to be becoming far more common.

Just a few months ago in April, a massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake shook Japan, sparking mass evacuations and tsunami warnings.

The tremors were felt as far as Tokyo, with the earthquake being detected just off the coast of Hokkaido in the north east.

Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed a preliminary magnitude of 7.9, hitting a depth of 10km in water around 100km off the Sanriku coast.

The agency issued a tsunami warning and confirmed it expected staggering waves of up to three metres (9.84 feet) to engulf large coastal areas across northern Japan.

Almost 4,000 people from more than 2,000 households were ordered to leave their homes in Niikappu, Hokkaido.

The Foreign Office later issued advice to Britons in Japan, which they said was located "in a major earthquake zone", while residents and tourists should remain vigilant.

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