A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwestern Japan late Monday, generating two minor tsunamis in the region, but no damage has been reported.
The earthquake hit at a depth of 36 kilometers approximately 18 kilometers from the coastline of Miyazaki prefecture in the Kyushu area at 21:19 hours (1219 GMT), as reported by the US Geological Survey.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) cautioned about potential tsunami waves reaching one metre (three feet) and advised the public to avoid coastal areas.
“Tsunami can strike repeatedly. Please do not enter the sea or go near coastal areas,” the JMA said on X.
The weather agency reported that two minor tsunamis measuring approximately 20 centimetres were observed at two ports in the area.
Local news sources indicated that there were no immediate injuries, while live broadcasts from the area on public broadcaster NHK displayed no apparent damage, with tranquil seas, operational vessels, and normal traffic flow.
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Positioned on four significant tectonic plates at the western boundary of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Japan is among the most tectonically active nations globally.
The archipelago, inhabited by approximately 125 million individuals, endures roughly 1,500 tremors annually and represents about 18 percent of global earthquakes.
The great majority are mild, though the harm they inflict differs based on their position and the depth beneath the Earth’s surface where they occur.
A 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Noto peninsula on New Year’s Day 2024, resulting in the deaths of nearly 470 individuals in Japan’s most significant tremor in over ten years, with many victims being elderly residents.
In August of last year, the JMA alerted that the probability of a “megaquake” was above average after a 7.1 magnitude quake injured 15 individuals.
