Powerful earthquake of 7.1 hits off southern Japan; tsunami advisory issued

Police officers standing guard near a building damaged following an earthquake in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan on Aug 8, 2024. - Kyodo via Reuters

TOKYO: A powerful earthquake struck off Japan's southern coast on Thursday (Aug 8), triggering a tsunami advisory that urged residents to stay away from the coastline. Nine people were injured, most of them slightly, but there were no reports of serious damage.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake registered magnitude 7.1 and was centred in waters off the eastern coast of Japan's southern main island of Kyushu at a depth of about 30km (18.6 miles).