Japan’s southern coast has been hit by tsunami waves following a series of powerful earthquakes that struck off the country’s coast.
The first 7.1-magnitude quake, detected southeast of Japan, prompted immediate safety warnings and disrupted local infrastructure, including halting train services and urging residents to seek higher ground.
Minutes after the initial tremor, a second 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck, intensifying the situation and affecting the nearby island of Shikoku.
The United States Geological Survey confirmed the severity of the quakes, while Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued tsunami advisories for several regions in the southwestern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku.
Tsunami waves of up to one meter have been reported, with further waves expected to strike repeatedly. Residents in Kyushu described the shaking as unprecedented, with homes and power lines visibly swaying.
Nichinan city and Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu island experienced the strongest impact.The Meteorological Society has predicted additional waves along the southern coast.
In response to the disaster, Japan’s government has mobilized a special task force and set up an emergency meeting of seismologists to assess the quake’s impact on the nearby Nankai Trough, known for its history of devastating earthquakes.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has issued instructions to stay vigilant and protect lives, emphasizing the importance of heeding safety measures.
The earthquake has raised concerns reminiscent of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, but officials have confirmed that Japan’s Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima remains unaffected. All 12 reactors on Kyushu and Shikoku are reported to be safe, with no abnormalities detected.
Japan, situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences approximately 1,500 earthquakes annually, with varying impacts based on their magnitude and depth. While many quakes cause minimal damage due to stringent building regulations, significant events like today’s remind residents of the region’s seismic volatility.
