The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) stated that a 7.1-magnitude earthquake occurred in southern Japan on Thursday, which led to the issuance of tsunami advisories.

Initial reports indicated a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, however the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) later raised it to 7.1. The earthquake struck near the eastern coast of Kyushu island in southern Japan, at a depth of around 30 km, scientists said its epicentre was in the Hyuganada Sea.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake hit the western major island of Kyushu at approximately 4:43 p.m. (0743 GMT) off Miyazaki prefecture. Kyushu and Shikoku, two large islands in Japan’s western region, are no longer the subject of tsunami warnings.

Miyazaki and the neighbouring island of Shikoku were hit around half an hour after the earthquake with waves of about 50 cm.

The Japan Times said that the Miyazaki Airport, which is close to the epicentre, has reports of smashed windows. There was a temporary suspension of flights and closure of the runway at the airport for safety inspections.

There were no casualties despite the collapse of concrete walls and damage to a wooden house in Osaki, a town in the nearby Kagoshima prefecture.

Major earthquakes, defined as those having a magnitude between 7.0 and 7.9, are capable of inflicting significant damage.

According to the Joint Seismic Activity Index (JSIA), the earthquake was so strong that “it becomes difficult to remain standing, doors may not open, wall tiles and window glass may be damaged and fall.” In other words, the quake was a 6.

Yoshimasa Hayashi, chief cabinet secretary, stated that the government was investigating potential damage and casualties, but that there were no immediate reports of anomalies at the twelve nuclear power facilities located on Kyushu and Shikoku.

After the devastating Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, earthquakes in regions near nuclear power plants became a serious worry.

One of the most seismically active countries in the world, Japan, is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a network of seismic faults that encircles the entire Pacific Ocean.

Over two hundred forty persons lost their lives in an earthquake that struck the north-central region of Noto on January 1, 2024.