Japan issues tsunami warning as 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes country

A powerful earthquake has been recorded along Japan’s southern coast, triggering a tsunami advisory.

Earlier today (8 August), the Japan Meteorological Agency reported the quake had registered a preliminary magnitude of 6.9, which has now been upgraded to a magnitude of 7.1, and was centred off the eastern coast of Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of about 18.6 miles (30km). The epicentre is said to be in Hyuganada Sea region.

The United States Geological Survey adds that the earthquake occurred at 4:42 pm local time.

A tsunami advisory has now been issued, with predictions of waves of up to 3ft (1m) along the southern coast of Kyushu and the nearby island of Shikoku.

"According to preliminary data, the quake was located at a very shallow depth of 8.8 km. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface," volcanicdiscovery.com states.

"The exact magnitude, epicentre, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.

"Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should have been felt by everybody in the area of the epicentre. In those areas, dangerous ground shaking occurred with the potential to inflict moderate to heavy damage to buildings and other infrastructure."

Videos have begun to circulate on social media appearing to show shopping centres and buildings being shaken across the region.

A clip shared to X by a radio station based in Kirishima, Kyushu showed employees taking cover as their office building vibrated.

FMきりしまのスタジオもかなり強く揺れました。霧島市も震度5弱を観測したようです。

今後の情報にも十分ご注意ください。#地震 pic.twitter.com/4gTP8ZwqYD

— FMきりしま 76.9Mhz 【公式】📻 (@fm_kirishima) August 8, 2024

Situated along the so-called 'Ring of Fire', Japan is one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world, with the Pacific Island nation having an average of 1,500 reports of seismic activity per year. However the majority of these earthquakes are usually too mild to be felt.

The strongest earthquake ever recorded in Japan occurred in March 2011 in the region of Tohoku.

The 9.0–9.1 magnitude earthquake caused a powerful tsunami which was responsible for the damage at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

It is reported that the 2011 earthquake caused an estimated 19,759 deaths and 6,242 injures, with a further 2,553 people still missing.

On 18 April, a strong earthquake struck the southwestern region of the country. The 6.6 magnitude quake rocked the island regions of Shikoku and Kyushu, causing around eight injuries and small landslides in the region.