A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 shook southern Japan yesterday, but no major damage was reported and only relatively minor tsunami arrived at the coast.
The quake hit at 4:42pm off Kyushu at a depth of 25km, the US Geological Survey said.
Broadcaster NHK showed footage of traffic lights shaking violently in Miyazaki on Kyushu.
Photo: AP
“The surface of the sea is wavering. I felt an intense jolt when the quake happened which lasted for between 30 seconds and a minute,” a local official told NHK.
The broadcaster also reported that three people were hurt in Miyazaki, but gave no indication of the extent of their injuries.
Tsunamis of up to 1m were initially expected to arrive or had arrived in some coastal areas in Kyushu and Shikoku islands, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The agency also said a small tsunami was possible in Chiba, about 850km from the epicenter.
“Tsunamis will strike repeatedly. Please do not enter the sea or approach the coast until the warning is lifted,” the agency wrote on X.
However, tsunamis of only 50cm, 20cm and 10cm were confirmed to have hit some places, including the port of Miyazaki, more than an hour after the quake, it said.
No abnormalities were reported at atomic power plants in the area, Japan’s nuclear regulation authority said.
Japansese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said that “damage to people and property” was still being assessed.
“In view of this situation, the prime minister instructed [officials] to provide the public with timely and accurate information on tsunamis and evacuations,” Hayashi said.
Unverified footage shared on social media showed only minor damage, including a small wall that had collapsed in a car park.
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