Two powerful earthquakes struck off Japan’s southern island of Kyushu on Thursday. The first was a 6.9-magnitude tremor, followed by a stronger 7.1-magnitude quake, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the earthquakes were centered off the eastern coast of Kyushu at a depth of approximately 30 km (18.6 miles).
In the wake of the powerful earthquakes, the agency issued a tsunami advisory, forecasting waves of up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) along the southern coast of Kyushu and the nearby island of Shikoku.
Nuclear plant operators on Kyushu and Shikoku have reported that they are assessing potential damage to their facilities.
Japan’s NHK public television reported that there were reports of broken windows at Miyazaki Airport, which is near the epicenter of the earthquakes.
Japan is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a major area of seismic activity encircling the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.
An earthquake in Japan’s north-central Noto region on January 1 resulted in over 240 fatalities.
