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A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Japan on Thursday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami warning for several coastal areas.
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially recorded two separate quakes, but later acknowledged the error, stating there was only one event. The first quake hit at a depth of 33 kilometers, about 29 kilometers southeast of Miyazaki on the island of Kyushu.
The Japanese government has set up a special task force in response to the tremor. Authorities warned that tsunamis of up to one meter in height could strike coastal areas in Kyushu and Shikoku islands, urging residents to avoid the sea and coastline until the warning is lifted.
There were no immediate reports of damage, but Japan’s disaster-prone status means the country is well-prepared for such events. The archipelago sits atop four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences around 1,500 earthquakes per year, accounting for 18% of the world’s total.
While large quakes often cause little damage due to Japan’s strict construction regulations and seismic-resistant building techniques, the country remains haunted by the memory of the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which killed around 18,500 people and triggered a nuclear disaster.
In March 2022, a 7.4-magnitude quake off the coast of Fukushima shook large areas of eastern Japan, killing three people. The capital Tokyo was also devastated by a massive earthquake a century ago in 1923.
Seismologists continue to monitor the situation closely, as Japan remains on high alert for potential aftershocks and further seismic activity in the region.
