A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off Miyazaki Prefecture’s coast on Thursday, triggering a tsunami advisory for parts of Kyushu and Shikoku. The Meteorological Agency also issued an alert warning of a potential megaquake along the Nankai Trough for the first time. The earthquake, which registered a lower 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, occurred at 4:43 p.m. at a depth of 30 kilometers in the Hyuganada sea.
Nine people were injured in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. A landslide was reported in Shibushi, Kagoshima Prefecture. The Meteorological Agency warned of the risk of buildings collapsing and landslides in affected areas, advising vigilance over the next week.
Small tsunami waves were recorded, including a 50-cm wave at Miyazaki Port. All tsunami advisories were lifted by 10 p.m. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged residents to take necessary precautions and set up a task force under Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura.
Kyushu Electric Power confirmed no impact on its nuclear plants. Several flights from Miyazaki Airport were canceled, and local train services across Kyushu were suspended or delayed. The Meteorological Agency’s alert for a possible large earthquake around the Nankai Trough marked its first-ever such warning. Kishida emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness and accurate information. Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
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