Tsunami advisory issued after 6.8 magnitude earthquake hits Japan coast

TOKYO — A tsunami advisory was in place late Monday after a strong earthquake struck off the coast of Japan’s Miyazaki prefecture, officials said.

The US Geological Survey put the earthquake’s preliminary magnitude at 6.8. The Japan Meteorological Agency said it had an intensity of lower 5 on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7.

The earthquake began around 9:19 p.m., with its epicenter a few miles offshore at a depth of about 19 miles, Japanese and U.S. officials said.

The Japan Weather Agency issued a tsunami warning for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures, with an expected height of about 1 meter. A tsunami wave measuring about 8 inches reached some coasts and harbors around 10 p.m., authorities said. They warned residents to continue to stay away from the coast and other waterways.

In Kochi prefecture, residents in some areas were advised to evacuate.

Japan’s weather authorities said about an hour after the quake that they were still gathering information about disturbances. Some train services were halted and it was unclear when they would be restarted.

The authorities warned that there could still be aftershocks and other tremors, so residents should stay in a safe place. Residents were warned to be on the lookout for broken glass or other debris.

No significant damage has yet been reported, and there have been no abnormalities in radiation levels or operations at regional nuclear power plants, officials said.

ABC News’ Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.