Japan was shaken by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake this Monday, off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture. Small tsunamis were thus triggered, without causing significant damage.
An earthquake measuring 6.8 in magnitude, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), struck southwestern Japan on Monday, triggering small tsunamis that did not cause significant damage, according to initial reports.
The quake struck at around 9:19 p.m. (1219 GMT) at a depth of 36 kilometers (22 miles) about 11 miles (18 kilometers) off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture in the Kyushu region, according to the USGS.
The USGS revised its initial estimate of the magnitude downward from 6.9 to 6.8, adding that “there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.” earthquake”.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency warned of possible one-meter waves and urged people to stay away from coastal areas.
“The tsunami may strike repeatedly. Please do not enter the sea or approach coastal areas,” the agency said on X.
A few small tsunamis of about 20 centimeters were detected at ports in the region, the weather agency said. Live footage on public broadcaster NHK showed calm seas and ships operating normally.
Minor damage
Only minor damage was reported by media, such as a broken window at a train station and items falling off shelves at a few stores. A man was slightly injured after falling in his home.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Situated at the convergence of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.
The archipelago of 125 million inhabitants experiences some 1,500 tremors per year and 18% of the earthquakes that occur in the world.
The majority of them are of low intensity, although the damage varies according to their location and depth. On January 1, 2024, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula, killing more than 470 people, including many elderly people.
Last August, the meteorological agency warned that the probability of a “megaseism” was higher than normal after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake injured 15 people.
This was a special type of earthquake, occurring in a subduction zone, that could trigger massive tsunamis.
In its warning, the weather agency said a “megaseism” could occur in the “subduction zone” of the Nankai Trench, off the southern coast of Japan, where other earthquakes have occurred in the past, usually in two phases.
The alert was lifted a week later. On Monday, the weather agency stressed that the latest quake did not meet the criteria for a megaquake alert like the Nankai Trough.
“However, it is important to remember that an earthquake can occur at any time, and it is important to ensure that earthquake preparations are implemented on a daily basis,”, the agency added.
Strict regulations
Japan imposes strict building regulations to ensure buildings can withstand strong shaking, and regularly holds drills to improve disaster preparedness major.
The most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan was the magnitude 9 earthquake that struck off its northeastern coast on March 11, 2011, which triggered a tidal wave that left about 20,000 people dead or missing.
This tsunami also caused the Fukushima nuclear accident, the worst in the world since Chernobyl in 1986.