TOKYO – On Monday, Japan issued a tsunami advisory following a 6.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the southwestern region of the country. Alerts for evacuation of coastal areas were later rescinded.
Initially, the magnitude of the earthquake was estimated to be 6.9, but this figure was revised downwards several times, with an official announcing it as 6.7 before the National Meteorological Agency confirmed the final measurement of 6.6.
Fortunately, no significant damage was reported immediately following the quake. Nonetheless, residents in certain coastal regions were advised to evacuate as a precaution. A report indicated that one individual sustained minor injuries in Kyushu after slipping on stairs, while train services at Miyazaki Station were halted, leaving passengers trapped.
According to reports, a tsunami measuring up to 1 meter (approximately 3.2 feet) arrived on land within 30 minutes post-earthquake. At Miyazaki Port, the tsunami was recorded at 20 centimeters (0.7 feet) high.
Tsunami advisories were first issued for Miyazaki prefecture, where the quake originated, and for the neighboring Kochi prefecture on Shikoku island, shortly after the tremor occurred at 9:19 p.m. These warnings were lifted just before midnight.
Authorities cautioned people to avoid coastal waters, including rivers, and advised vigilance against potential landslides and falling debris within homes. An agency official highlighted the possibility of aftershocks in the following days.
The earthquake, which occurred at a depth of 36 kilometers (22 miles), shook a vast area of Kyushu island, as noted by the Japan Meteorological Agency, which initially reported the depth as 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).
Footage from NHK TV showed normal traffic patterns and illuminated streets, indicating that the power supply remained operational. No irregularities were found at the monitoring stations for nearby nuclear facilities.
Japan regularly experiences earthquakes because of its position within the “Ring of Fire,” a zone of active volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Ocean.
Experts from the meteorological agency convened late Monday to assess the potential implications of this earthquake in relation to the historic Nankai Trough quakes. They concluded that extraordinary measures were not necessary at this time. The Nankai Trough is recognized as a region with a tendency for major seismic activity.
Historically, a Nankai Trough earthquake off the coast of Shikoku in 1946 resulted in over 1,300 fatalities. Additionally, the area experienced a significant 7.1 magnitude quake in August of the previous year.
