A tsunami advisory issued for parts of southwest Japan was lifted late Monday after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the region, prompting brief concerns about coastal flooding, The Associated Press reports, citing the country’s media.
While the advisory was cancelled, the quake caused some minor damage, including a minor injury.
The earthquake, initially estimated at 6.9 magnitude by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), was later revised to 6.6. It struck at 9:19 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located at a depth of 36 kilometers (22 miles), according to JMA. The quake was felt across the island of Kyushu.
Following the tremor, a tsunami advisory was issued for Miyazaki prefecture, where the earthquake was centered, and nearby Kochi prefecture on Shikoku island. Reports indicate that a small tsunami, estimated to be around 3.2 feet high, reached the coast within 30 minutes of the quake. Waters measured at Miyazaki Port reached 0.7 feet. The tsunami advisories were lifted before midnight.
While the event caused minimal disruption, a man sustained a minor injury in Kyushu after falling down stairs. Additionally, a small landslide blocked a road and some underground water pipes ruptured, according to reports from NHK TV.
JMA official Shigeki Aoki warned that aftershocks are possible, particularly within the next two to three days.
Despite the shaking, footage from NHK showed that traffic was moving and streets were well lit, suggesting power remained operational. No issues were detected at nuclear plants in the area.
The earthquake is the latest reminder of Japan’s vulnerability to seismic activity due to its position along the “Ring of Fire,” a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Experts at the Meteorological Agency met to evaluate any potential link between the current temblor and the Nankai Trough, an area known to be at risk of large, periodic earthquakes. A 1946 Nankai Trough quake off Shikoku resulted in over 1,300 fatalities. The area experienced another 7.1 magnitude quake in August of last year.
