On Thursday (August 8), a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s southwestern region, as reported by NHK. The earthquake triggered a tsunami warning, but there were no immediate signs of significant damage.
Initially reported as a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, the seismic intensity data was later revised upwards. According to data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake occurred at 4:43 p.m. local time, with the epicenter in the sea area east of Miyazaki Prefecture known as the “Hyuganada,” at a depth of 30 kilometers.
NHK reported that authorities have issued tsunami warnings to Miyazaki Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, Kagoshima, Ehime Prefecture, and other coastal areas and islands.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned people in areas under tsunami warnings to move away from the coast and river mouths. Tsunamis can sweep away people and objects with great force, and any activities on beaches or in the water should be stopped.
The Japanese government is currently investigating the relationship between this earthquake and seismic activity in the Japan Trench (a 700 square kilometer trench in the sea extending from Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture to the eastern sea off Kyushu, with a depth of about 4 kilometers). The Japanese scientific community believes that the Japan Trench could trigger a major earthquake.