A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has hit southwestern Japan, the country’s Meteorological Agency said Monday.
Tsunami warnings were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture, where the quake was centered, in the southwestern island of Kyushu, as well as nearby Kochi Prefecture, shortly after the quake struck at 9:19 p.m. local time, according to the agency.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the advisory for tsunami waves of up to one meter, adding that it rated the quake as a lower five on the Japanese seismic scale of seven.
According to the scale, quakes with an intensity of a lower five will likely cause windows to crack, utility poles to move and cause minor damage to roads.
On top of this, rockfalls and landslide may occur.
The extent of damage was not immediately clear.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the quake was at a depth of 37 km (23 miles).
Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes because of its location along the ‘Ring of Fire,’ an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.
More to follow.