The alert followed a 7.1-magnitude temblor that struck off the coast of the countryβs third largest island, sparking a tsunami advisory
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its first-ever βmega earthquake cautionβ on Thursday, following a magnitude 7.1 temblor that struck earlier in the day off the coast of Kyushu, the countryβs third largest island. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries.
The quake occurred at around 4:43 pm local time (07:43 GMT) off the coast of the Miyazaki prefecture of Kyushu, at a depth of about 18 miles, triggering tsunami advisories, the JMA said.
Seismologists reportedly held an emergency meeting to analyze whether the quake had impacted the nearby Nankai Trough, where it has long been feared that a massive earthquake could cause hundreds of thousands of deaths. Large earthquakes have taken place every 100 to 150 years in central and western parts of Japan, the agency said.
