An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale followed by another tremor measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck southern Kyushu, Japan today, prompting local authorities to issue a tsunami warning for the eastern and southern coasts of the island and southern Shikoku. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued the announcement, saying the epicenter of the two quakes was in the Hyuganada Sea, at a depth of 33 kilometers, about 29 kilometers offshore southeast of Miyazaki Prefecture, at around 4:42 p.m. local time (about 9:42 a.m. GMT).
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a series of tsunami warnings for the Uwakai coast of Ehime Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, and the coast along the Bungo Channel in Oita Prefecture. The warnings also cover Miyazaki Prefecture, eastern Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Tanegashima and Yakushima regions.
According to the public broadcaster NHKwaves of up to one meter high are expected to hit or are already hitting parts of the coasts of Kyushu and Shikoku. “Tsunamis will strike repeatedly,” the Japan Meteorological Agency said on X, adding that a small tsunami could hit as far away as Chiba, east of Tokyo, about 850 kilometers from the quake’s epicenter. “Please do not enter the sea or approach the coast until the warning is lifted.”
Japan’s nuclear regulator said there were no abnormalities in reactors or radiation levels at Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture and Shikoku Electric Power Co.’s Ikata nuclear power plant in Ehime Prefecture.
At the moment, more than two hours after the warning, in some places, especially in the port of Miyazaki, the Japan Meteorological Agency has confirmed tsunamis of only 50, 20 and 10 centimeters. There are no reports of damage or casualties at the moment.
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