A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, leaving at least 50 people injured, cutting power to thousands of homes and causing significant damage to roads and infrastructure.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said authorities were still assessing the full extent of the casualties and damage.

Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Takaichi said emergency response teams had been deployed and that officials were working to determine the impact of the quake across the affected region.

According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the earthquake’s shaking lasted for about one minute. Television footage showed what appeared to be smoke or fire rising from areas near the epicenter.

Operations at Kumamoto Airport, located in the town of Mashiki, were temporarily suspended following the quake. Airport officials halted all flights while safety inspections of the facilities were carried out.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said it had detected no abnormalities at nearby nuclear facilities in Ikata, Genkai and Satsumasendai City following emergency inspections.

The earthquake also triggered widespread power outages, with several thousand households left without electricity, according to NHK.

Authorities urged residents to remain cautious, warning people to stay away from the coastline because of potential hazards and advising those in mountainous areas to remain alert for possible landslides and aftershocks.

Emergency crews continued search, rescue and damage assessment operations as officials monitored the situation and warned that additional seismic activity could occur in the coming hours.