Strong 7.1-magnitude quake hits southern Japan, prompting tsunami warning

A strong earthquake struck off the southern coast of Japan on Thursday, prompting a tsunami warning. There were no immediate reports of injuries, Reuters reported.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake, which struck at 4:43 p.m. local time, had a magnitude of 7.1 and was centered off Miyazaki Prefecture on the western island of Kyushu. The quake struck at a depth of about 18.6 miles.

The agency issued a tsunami warning, predicting waves of up to 3.3 feet along the southern coast of Kyushu and nearby Shikoku.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that waves up to 20 inches high had already been observed in Miyazaki, according to Reuters.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that there were no reports of any abnormalities. Nuclear power plants Following the earthquake, the government has been checking the damage and casualties, Reuters reported.

Japanese broadcaster NHK said there were reports of windows being shattered at Miyazaki Airport near the epicenter of the quake.

Japan lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a line of seismic faults that circles the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.

a Earthquake on January 1 in north-central JapanThe Noto tragedy killed more than 240 people.