Twenty dead after Indonesia’s magnitude-7.7 earthquake, rescuers say

TOKYO: A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kyushu island on Tuesday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for coastal areas. The earthquake hit Kumamoto prefecture at around 4:27pm local time, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The agency recorded the tremor at the highest level on Japan’s seven-point seismic intensity scale in some areas. Following the earthquake, the JMA warned that tsunami waves of up to one metre could reach nearby coastal areas. Residents were urged to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions issued by local authorities. The Japanese government also issued emergency earthquake warnings for several prefectures across Kyushu. These included Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita and Miyazaki. The strong tremor disrupted daily life in several areas. Around 40,000 homes reportedly lost electricity after the earthquake. Train services operated by JR Kyushu were also suspended as authorities assessed the situation. Kyushu Electric Power said its Sendai and Genkai nuclear power plants reported no abnormalities or damage following the earthquake. Officials continued monitoring the facilities as a precaution. The latest earthquake comes after another strong tremor struck northern Japan on June 25. That earthquake measured 7.2 in magnitude but did not cause major casualties or widespread damage. Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. It sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country experiences thousands of earthquakes every year. It also accounts for a significant share of the world’s earthquakes measuring magnitude 6 or higher.

A controversy has erupted in Bangladesh after a member of parliament from Jamaat-e-Islami, Ghazi Nazrul Islam, became the center of public debate over his alleged second marriage following the circulation of a viral video on social media. According to Bangladeshi media reports, the video showed Ghazi Nazrul Islam with a young woman whom he later identified as his second wife. The footage quickly spread online, prompting widespread discussion and speculation. A fact-checking organization examined the video and stated that it found no evidence suggesting it had been generated using artificial intelligence or digitally manipulated. Following that assessment, public attention shifted from the authenticity of the video to the identity of the woman and the nature of her relationship with the lawmaker. In a statement, Ghazi Nazrul Islam confirmed that the woman is his second wife. He said the marriage took place on June 17 with the consent of both families and the approval of his first wife. The lawmaker alleged that the viral video had been secretly recorded and later released as part of an extortion attempt and a politically motivated campaign to damage his reputation. His first wife also released a video supporting his account. She confirmed that her husband had married Maryam Begum as his second wife and said the marriage had taken place with her knowledge and consent. Maryam Begum also appeared in a separate video, identifying herself as Ghazi Nazrul Islam’s wife. She said the marriage ceremony was held on June 17 in the presence of both families and the lawmaker’s first wife. Despite these public statements, Bangladeshi media reported that documents related to Maryam Begum later surfaced on social media. The authenticity of those documents has not been independently verified, and neither the lawmaker nor Maryam Begum or her family has publicly addressed the apparent inconsistencies contained in them. According to the documents, Maryam Begum’s marital status was listed as “unmarried.” The papers also reportedly included a recommendation signed by Ghazi Nazrul Islam on June 22—five days after the claimed marriage—in support of her application for a government job. Reports said Maryam Begum had applied for public sector employment and that the MP had endorsed her application. Ghazi Nazrul Islam rejected all allegations arising from the documents. He claimed that on July 13 he visited an office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area, where both of his wives were present. He alleged that his driver, his second wife’s uncle and several unidentified individuals held him captive, extorted 100,000 taka, demanded additional money and secretly recorded a private video, which was later circulated on social media. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh said it is gathering information about the incident and will decide on any organizational action once all facts have been established. Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Haque Mahbub Zubair said the party is reviewing media reports as well as statements from the member of parliament, his two wives and the woman’s father before reaching any conclusion.