Japan’s Meteorological Agency withdrew a tsunami advisory after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of southwest Japan.
The quake struck shortly after 9.19pm local time (7.19am ET), the agency said, triggering an advisory for Miyazaki prefecture, in the island of Kyushu, as well as Japan’s southern Kochi prefecture.
An initial tsunami wave approximately 1 meter (3.2 feet) high made landfall within 30 minutes of the earthquake, the Associated Press reported, citing Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV. Authorities lifted the tsunami advisory late Monday evening but still urged locals to stay away from the sea and near the coast – warning that second and third waves may be higher than the first. Cliff collapses and falling rocks could still pose a threat to residents should earthquakes of the same magnitude hit the area, according to weather officials.
“An earthquake could occur at any time, and it is important to ensure that preparations for earthquakes are implemented on a daily basis,” officials said in a press conference.
Most of Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire – a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity – making it vulnerable to frequent earthquakes. In 2011, the deadliest quake and subsequent tsunami in recent Japanese history struck northwest of the capital Tokyo and killed at least 20,000 people.
