Powerful Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Advisory Off Southern Japan's Coast

A strong earthquake struck near Japan’s southern coastline, prompting a tsunami advisory, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency reported that the earthquake had an initial magnitude of 7.1 and was located off the eastern coast of Kyushu, Japan’s southern main island, at a depth of approximately 30 kilometers.

Tsunami waves as high as 50 centimeters were recorded along sections of Kyushu's southern coast and the nearby island of Shikoku roughly 30 minutes after the earthquake.

However, Japanese authorities have now warned of a potential sea level rise of up to one meter along the Pacific coast of the western islands of Kyushu and Shikoku.

"The precise magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the earthquake may be updated in the coming hours or minutes as seismologists analyze more data and refine their estimates, or as additional reports are released by other agencies. Based on the initial seismic information, the quake would have been felt by everyone in the epicentral region. In those areas, severe ground shaking occurred, possibly causing moderate to significant damage to buildings and infrastructure," the Japan Meteorological Agency stated.

Japan, situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is one of the most seismically active regions in the world.

The island nation accounts for around 20% of global earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or higher. Seismometers in Japan detect an event every five minutes on average, leading the country to make significant investments in earthquake-resistant infrastructure and public preparedness.

On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced its most devastating earthquake, known as the "Great East Japan Earthquake," which had a magnitude of 9.1 and generated tsunami waves that may have reached up to 40.5 meters in height. A separate earthquake on January 1 in the Noto region of northern Japan resulted in over 240 fatalities.