Japan hit by powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake; tsunami advisory issued

A strong earthquake struck off Japan’s southern coast on Thursday, triggering a tsunami warning.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake registered magnitude 7.1 and was centered off the east coast of Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of about 28.6 miles.

It issued a tsunami advisory predicting waves of up to 3.3 feet along the southern coast of Kyushu and the nearby island of Shikoku.

Visitors to Peace Park crouch as an earthquake alert was issued in Nagasaki, western Japan on August 8, 2024. AP

Operators of nuclear power plants on Kyushu and Shikoku said they were checking to see if there was any damage to them.

Japan’s NHK public broadcaster said there were reports of broken windows at Miyazaki airport near the epicenter.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake registered magnitude 7.1 and was centered off the east coast of Japan's southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of about 28.6 miles. — The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake registered magnitude 7.1 and was centered off the east coast of Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of about 28.6 miles. Japan Metrological Agency

Japan is located on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, the series of seismic faults that encircle the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.

An earthquake on January 1 in Japan’s north-central Noto region left over 240 people dead.