A powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the southwest of the archipelago on Monday, according to the American Institute of Geophysics. The tsunami warning was finally lifted.
Japan issued a tsunami warning on Monday after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the southwest of the country. Public warnings to stay away from coastal areas were later lifted. The agency initially estimated the magnitude at 6.9, but later revised it downward. No damage was immediately reported. Residents in some coastal areas were asked to evacuate as a precaution.
A man was lightly injured in Kyushu after falling down some stairs, NHK television reported. Trains stopped at Miyazaki Station, stranding passengers.
NHK said a tsunami, estimated to be up to 1 meter high, reached land within 30 minutes of the quake. The waters detected at Miyazaki Port were 20 centimeters high, according to reports.
Tsunami warnings were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture, where the earthquake was centered, on the southwestern island of Kyushu, as well as for neighboring Kochi Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, shortly after the earthquake. after the earthquake at 9:19 p.m.
They were all up shortly before midnight. Residents have been warned to stay away from waters, including rivers. Shigeki Aoki, head of the agency, told reporters that residents should watch out for landslides as well as falling objects into homes.
Aftershocks are possible, especially in the next two or three days, he added. The earthquake, centered at a depth of 30 kilometers, shook a wide area on Kyushu, the southwestern main island, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Images from NHK television showed smooth traffic and well-lit streets, meaning the electricity was still working. No problems were detected at the various monitoring stations of the nuclear power plants in the area.