Tsunami advisory issued after 6.9 magnitude Earthquake strikes southwest Japan

Japan's Meteorological Agency issued an advisory for Kyushu Island and the southern Kochi prefecture

Listen to article

Japan's Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami advisory after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of southwest Japan on Sunday evening. The quake, which occurred around 9:19 p.m. local time (7:19 a.m. ET), triggered an advisory for Miyazaki province on Kyushu Island and the southern Kochi prefecture.

The agency has urged residents to avoid coastal areas and refrain from entering the sea until the advisory is lifted. It warned that tsunami waves of up to one meter (three feet) could occur. Despite the U.S. Geological Survey revising the earthquake's magnitude down to 6.8 and stating there is "no tsunami threat," Japan's Meteorological Agency emphasized the potential danger of repeated tsunami strikes.

"Tsunami can strike repeatedly. Please do not enter the sea or go near coastal areas," the agency posted on X (formerly Twitter).