A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off Japan's southern coast on Thursday, prompting a tsunami advisory for the region. The quake was centered in waters off the eastern coast of Japan's southern main island of Kyushu, with a depth of approximately 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).
The tremor was most strongly felt in Nichinan city and surrounding areas in Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu island. Following the earthquake, tsunami waves measuring up to 50 centimeters (1.6 feet) were observed along parts of Kyushu's southern coast and the nearby island of Shikoku.
Seismologists convened an emergency meeting to assess whether the quake had impacted the nearby Nankai Trough, known for past devastating earthquakes. While there were reports of broken windows at Miyazaki airport near the epicenter, there were no immediate indications of injuries or significant damage.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi urged residents in the affected region to steer clear of the coastline as a precautionary measure. The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed the safety of all 12 nuclear reactors, including the three currently operational ones, on Kyushu and Shikoku.
Japan, situated on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' experiences frequent seismic activity and is considered one of the most earthquake-prone countries globally. The country has been on high alert for earthquakes near nuclear power plants since the Fukushima nuclear disaster triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
Notably, an earthquake on January 1 in Japan's north-central Noto region resulted in the tragic loss of over 240 lives.
