Tokyo, Japan – A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 jolted Japan on Thursday afternoon, prompting a tsunami advisory for coastal areas. The temblor struck off the southern island of Kyushu at 4:42 p.m. local time (3:42 a.m. ET), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The quake’s epicenter was located about 18 miles beneath the sea, and the agency issued a tsunami advisory for Kochi and Miyazaki prefectures, urging residents to evacuate immediately. While no significant structural damage has been reported thus far, Miyazaki Port experienced a surge of 20 inches.
Japan is no stranger to seismic activity, situated in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions. The country has a robust early warning system and strict building codes in place to mitigate the impact of such natural disasters.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
