Japan earthquake: Rare tsunami warning issued after massive 6.8 magnitude tremor

A strong 6.8 magnitude struck near the city of Miyazaki in Japan on Monday, January 13. 

Following the earthquake in the Miyazaki prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami advisory for both the Kochi and Miyazaki prefectures, with residents warned of heights of about one meter.

The JMA urged the public to get away from coastal waters.

In a post on social media it said: “Tsunami can strike repeatedly. Please do not enter the sea or go near coastal areas.”

The JMA said on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7, it has an intensity of lower 5.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has said “there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake” for the United States.

The earthquake occurred at around 9.19 pm local time,  reports.

Japanese officials said the epicenter was offshore, at a depth of around 19 miles, as per the outlet.

A 20-centimetre tsunami was later recorded reaching Miyazaki city, with fears over the two nuclear power plants in Sendai and Ikata, which are nearest to where the quake occurred.

It’s unclear what damage has been caused by the quake, and authorities are say they are closely monitoring the situation.

Radio messages have been sent out by local authorities urging caution in coastal areas.

According to Japanese media reports, police at the Miyazaki Minami Police Station in Miyazaki City, where the tremor took place, yet to receive any emergency calls about damage, as per .

An on-duty officer said: “First there was a small tremor, and then the lateral tremor got bigger and bigger. Nothing fell or anything.”

 is among the most -prone countries globally, due it sitting across four converging tectonic plates that grind together, contantly,  explains.

The country sees some 1,500 earthquakes anually, although most are too mild to be felt.

Japan saw its largest earthquake ever recorded in 2011, a magnitude-9.1 quake that struck the Tohoku region and caused a huge tsunami.