Japan earthquake tsunami advisory issued after 7.1 quake in Kumamoto
A 7.1-magnitude quake hit southern Kumamoto Prefecture, with officials urging coastal residents near two seas to leave immediately.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
2 min read
A Japan earthquake tsunami advisory was issued Tuesday after a powerful quake struck southern Kumamoto Prefecture, sending officials into emergency mode along parts of the coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 and struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, or just over 6 miles. The agency placed the quake at the highest end of Japan’s seismic intensity scale.
Japan’s Cabinet Office’s Disaster Management Division said the tsunami advisory covered the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea. Officials told people in coastal areas to leave immediately and not return until the advisory is lifted.
Where was the Japan earthquake and tsunami advisory?
The quake hit Japan’s southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The tsunami advisory applied to coastal areas around the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea, according to Japan’s Cabinet Office’s Disaster Management Division.
A tsunami advisory is a public safety alert for areas that may face dangerous coastal conditions after an earthquake. In this case, the instruction from Japan’s disaster officials was direct: get out of coastal zones at once and stay away until authorities say it is safe.
The immediate impact on the ground was not clear after the quake. No details on damage, injuries or disruption were available in the initial information reported by officials.
The earthquake’s listed depth, about 10 kilometers, put it relatively close to the surface. The Japan Meteorological Agency described the magnitude as preliminary, meaning the reading was an early assessment that could be updated as more data is reviewed.
Japan is monitored closely for seismic activity, and official tsunami alerts are handled through national disaster and weather agencies. On Tuesday, the warning to residents focused on speed and distance from the shoreline, with authorities urging people not to wait near the coast while the advisory remained active.
The Cabinet Office’s Disaster Management Division did not say when the advisory would be lifted. Residents in the affected coastal areas were told to remain away from the shoreline until that official cancellation comes.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.