A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck off the southern coast of Japan on Thursday, prompting a tsunami warning. The earthquake was centered in waters off the east coast of Kyushu, Japan's main southern island, at a depth of approximately 18.6 miles. The most significant impact was felt in and around the city of Nichinan in Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that tsunami waves of up to 1.6 feet were detected along parts of the southern coast of Kyushu and the nearby island of Shikoku about half an hour after the quake. Residents were urged to stay away from the coast. Despite the severity of the earthquake, there were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.
Seismologists called an emergency meeting to assess whether the quake had hit the Nankai Trough, a source of past devastating earthquakes. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said officials were assessing possible injuries or serious damage.
Shigeki Aoki, an official with the Department of Seismology, warned that strong aftershocks could occur for about a week. Reports indicated that windows were broken at Miyazaki Airport, near the epicenter, and the airport's runway was temporarily closed for security checks. In Osaki, Kagoshima Prefecture, concrete walls collapsed and a wooden house was damaged, but no injuries were reported.
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority confirmed the safety of all 12 nuclear reactors in Kyushu and Shikoku, including three that are currently operating. This is a major concern in Japan, as the country experienced a major nuclear disaster in Fukushima in 2011 following a massive earthquake and tsunami.
Japan lies on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', a line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. Earlier this year, an earthquake in Japan's north-central Noto region killed more than 240 people.
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