Tsunami Waves Hit Southern Japan Following Powerful Earthquakes
Tsunami waves began to impact a wide stretch of coastline in southern Japan after two significant earthquakes registering magnitudes of 6.9 and 7.1 struck the region on Thursday afternoon. In response, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for coastal areas on the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku.
According to NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, the advisories anticipated waves of up to one meter in height, affecting prefectures such as Miyazaki and Kochi. About thirty minutes after the initial tremors, NHK reported the arrival of the first waves along the coast of Miyazaki, with expectations of additional waves to follow. The Japan Meteorological Agency typically issues alerts for anticipated waves that could reach heights of up to one meter, posing a risk that smaller vessels could capsize. Under such advisories, residents and visitors are urged to evacuate coastal regions to ensure their safety.
As the situation unfolded, visitors at the Peace Park in Nagasaki, a western city in Japan, experienced an earthquake alert on Thursday, prompting heightened awareness among the public.
The first earthquake was recorded less than 20 miles off the coast of Miyazaki on Kyushu, as per data from the United States Geological Survey. Remarkably, a stronger 7.1 magnitude quake followed just under a minute later. Reports from NHK indicated that inside the station’s offices in Miyazaki, while nothing fell over, individuals on the second floor encountered difficulty in maintaining their balance due to the shaking.
In the city of Nichinan, also located in Kyushu, the police chief reported that no structures appeared to have collapsed in the vicinity, providing some reassurance to local residents. Furthermore, the Kyushu Electric Power Company confirmed that its nuclear power facilities were functioning normally despite the seismic activity.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
