7.1 earthquake strikes southern Japan, tsunami warnings issued

An earthquake struck southwestern Japan, 30km southeast of Miyazaki, on Aug. 8 at 3:43pm (Singapore time), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

Tsunami warnings were issued for Kochi, Miyazaki, and other prefectures.

The earthquake magnitude was 7.1, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Videos showed the aftermath of the earthquake

Videos posted on Quantectum Japan's X showed people in a shopping mall cowering on the ground as clothes, television screens and signboards swayed from the earthquake's tremor.

Glass panels at train stations and ornament displays in a shop were seen shattered.

多くの人々が、今日の宮崎県南部、九州で発生したマグニチュード6.9の #地震 で強い揺れを感じたと報告し、恐怖の体験を共有しています。私たちもいくつかの動画や写真をシェアします。#earthquake #Kyushu #Japan@fumina2377 @y0927y_orix @fm_kirishima pic.twitter.com/Yg7stDNsAd

— Quantectum Japan 日本地震予報 (@Quantectum_Jap) August 8, 2024

宮崎県付近、九州南部でのマグニチュード6.9の #地震 の動画。 pic.twitter.com/941T7X1RyU

— Quantectum Japan 日本地震予報 (@Quantectum_Jap) August 8, 2024

The USGS website initially reported two earthquakes 55 seconds apart.

The organisation quickly issued a statement that said:

"This event is showing as two events on our website. There is only one event a magnitude 7.1. The M6.9 is a duplicate that we are working to remove from the list."

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake was centred off the eastern coast of Japan's southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of about 30km.

It issued a tsunami advisory, predicting waves of up to 1m along the southern coast of Kyushu and the nearby island of Shikoku.

Tokyo is located approximately 1,200km from the earthquake's epicentre.

Quantectum Japan reported no current abnormalities at nuclear power plants, and that the Japanese government is checking for damage and casualties.

JMA said it is investigating if the earthquake may be related to the large-scale earthquake expected in the Nankai Trough.

Top photos via @Quantectum_Jap/X