Japan rattled by 6.9 magnitude quake, followed by tsunami advisories

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 hit southwestern Japan, the country’s Meteorological Agency said on Monday, while warning the public to stay away from coastal areas because of a tsunami threat.

Tsunami advisories were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture, where the quake was centred on the southwestern island of Kyushu, as well as nearby Kochi Prefecture, shortly after the quake struck at 9:19pm local time, according to the agency.

The quake, centred at a depth of 30 kilometres (18.6 miles), shook a wide area in Kyushu, the southwestern main island, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said.

There were no immediate reports of damage. Residents in the coastal city of Kochi were told to evacuate as a precautionary measure. One man was slightly injured in Kyushu after falling down some stairs, Public broadcaster NHK reported. Trains stopped running in Miyazaki Station, stranding passengers.

NHK said a tsunami, estimated to be as high as 1 metre (3.2 feet), reached land within 30 minutes of the quake. The waters detected at Miyazaki Port measured 20 centimetres (0.7 feet) high, the reports said.

The city – the prefectural capital – has a population of roughly 400,000 people.