Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory on Monday after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the southwestern region of the country.
Although warnings urging residents to avoid coastal areas were initially announced, they were later withdrawn.
The agency initially estimated the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.9 but subsequently revised it downward. No significant damage was reported, though precautionary evacuations were implemented in certain coastal areas.
According to NHK television, a man sustained minor injuries in Kyushu after falling down a staircase. Additionally, train services were temporarily suspended at Miyazaki Station, leaving passengers stranded.
Reports from NHK indicated that tsunami waves, initially projected to reach heights of 1 metre (3.2 feet), came ashore within 30 minutes of the quake. Measurements at Miyazaki Port recorded wave heights of approximately 20 centimetres (0.7 feet).
Tsunami advisories were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture on Kyushu Island, where the earthquake was centred, and for Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island. These warnings, issued shortly after the earthquake struck at 9:19 pm local time, were lifted just before midnight.
Authorities urged the public to avoid coastal areas and rivers, while Shigeki Aoki, an official from the Meteorological Agency, advised vigilance against potential landslides and falling objects inside homes. He also cautioned that aftershocks could occur over the next two to three days.
The earthquake, with its epicentre at a depth of 30 kilometres (18.6 miles), caused significant shaking across Kyushu, according to the Meteorological Agency.
Footage broadcast by NHK showed functioning streetlights and traffic, indicating that electrical power remained intact. Furthermore, monitoring stations in the area reported no issues at nearby nuclear facilities.
Japan, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes due to its positioning on tectonic fault lines and volcanic arcs.
Frances Ibiefo
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