Japan’s weather agency warned of possible one-meter waves and asked people to stay away from coastal areas.
Published on 13/01/2025 17:54
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A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southwest Japan on Monday January 13, according to the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS), causing two small tsunamis which did not cause damage, according to initial findings. . The earthquake occurred around 9:19 p.m. (1:19 p.m. in Paris) at a depth of 36 km some 18 km off the coast of Miyazaki prefecture, in the Kyushu region, according to the USGS.
Japan’s weather agency warned of possible one-meter waves and asked people to stay away from coastal areas. “The tsunami may strike multiple times. Please do not enter the sea or approach coastal areas”the agency said. Two small tsunamis of around 20 cm were detected in two ports in the region, according to the meteorological agency.
The media did not report any injuries, while images transmitted live on public channel NHK showed calm seas and ships moving normally. Situated at the convergence of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. The archipelago of 125 million inhabitants experiences some 1,500 tremors per year and 18% of the earthquakes that occur in the world.
