Tsunami advisory lifted after 6.9 earthquake rattles southwestern Japan

CNN
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Japan’s Meteorological Agency withdrew a tsunami warning after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of southwestern Japan.

The earthquake struck shortly after 9:19 p.m. local time (7:19 a.m. ET), the agency said, triggering an advisory for Miyazaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu as well as Japan’s southern Kochi prefecture.

An initial tsunami wave about 1 meter (3.2 feet) high came ashore within 30 minutes of the earthquake, the Associated Press reported, citing Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV.

Authorities lifted the tsunami warning late Monday night, but still urged locals to stay away from the sea and near the coast – and warned that the second and third waves could be higher than the first.

Rock collapses and falling rocks could still pose a threat to residents if an earthquake of similar magnitude strikes the area, according to weather officials.

“An earthquake can occur at any time and it is important to ensure that earthquake preparations are implemented on a daily basis,” officials said at a news conference.

Most of Japan lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire – a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity – making it vulnerable to frequent earthquakes.

Last summer, Japan’s weather agency issued a strong earthquake alert following tremors in parts of western Japan originating in the Hyuga-nada Sea – where Monday’s earthquake occurred.

In 2011, the deadliest earthquake and subsequent tsunami in recent Japanese history struck northwest of the capital Tokyo, killing at least 20,000 people. The 9.1-magnitude Tohoku earthquake turned into a massive tsunami and nuclear disaster – obliterating homes, flooding cities and leaving survivors psychologically scarred.

This story has been updated.