6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Kyushu's Miyazaki Prefecture, Tsunami Advisory Issued

Jan 13, 2025, 01:44 PM

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 struck the Kyushu region in southwestern Japan, centered in Miyazaki Prefecture at 9:19 p.m. local time. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures following the quake. No immediate reports of damage were available, but residents in coastal areas of Kochi were advised to evacuate as a precaution. The earthquake had an intensity of lower 5 on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7 in the hardest-hit areas. A small tsunami, estimated to be as high as 1 meter, reached land within 30 minutes of the quake, with waters detected at Miyazaki Port measuring 20 centimeters high. Japan's location along the 'Ring of Fire' makes it prone to frequent earthquakes.