7.1 earthquake struck Japan

KUMAMOTO PREFECTURE, JAPAN (NBC, KYMA) - A powerful earthquake struck Southwestern Japan Tuesday.

Footage from Kumamoto Castle shows sections of its stone walls collapsing.

The earthquake, centered in Kumamoto Prefecture, registered a seismic intensity of 7, the highest level on Japans seismic intensity scale.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 and depth of 10 kilometers, or just over 6 miles.

The maximum seismic intensity was recorded in Uki City and Hikawa Town in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Several buildings were damaged in the quake and at lease 12 houses collapsed and least 50 people were injured.