Unruptured fault from 2016 likely behind powerful Japan temblor: experts

TOKYO - A powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday is likely to have been caused by a fault left unruptured in twin temblors that struck almost the same region a decade ago, experts say, warning that strong seismicity may continue.

The focus of the latest quake, which had a magnitude of 7.1 and originated in Kumamoto Prefecture, was not far from the epicenters of similar inland temblors of M6.5 on April 14, 2016, and M7.3 two days later.