TOKYO — A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Kyushu, Japan, on Thursday, prompting a tsunami advisory. The quake occurred at 4:42 p.m. local time (3:42 a.m. ET) near Miyazaki Prefecture, at a depth of approximately 18 miles, according to Japan’s meteorological agency.
The advisory urges residents in coastal areas of Kochi and Miyazaki prefectures to evacuate until further notice. The advisory predicts tsunami waves will not exceed 1 meter (3.3 feet).
Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that authorities are investigating potential structural damage, though none has been confirmed so far. Miyazaki Port has recorded a surge of 20 inches, the highest observed to date.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located off the eastern coast of Kyushu at a depth of around 30 kilometers. While there are no immediate reports of significant damage, the Japanese government has mobilized a special task force to monitor the situation.
Japan, situated in a seismically active region, experiences around 1,500 earthquakes annually, though most are minor. The country’s stringent building codes are designed to mitigate damage from such natural disasters.
