A Powerful Earthquake Strikes Southwestern Japan
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan, prompting the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a tsunami alert for coastal areas. The alert was later lifted.
The earthquake occurred at 4:43 PM local time (9:43 AM in Italy) at a depth of 30 kilometers off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture. It was centered in an area on the southern island of Kyushu.
Impact and Warnings
The earthquake caused minor damage and triggered a tsunami alert, with waves up to one meter expected in some coastal areas of Kyushu and Shikoku islands. However, no significant damage has been reported.
Previous Earthquakes in the Region
Japan is located in a seismically active region known as the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences approximately 1,500 earthquakes annually. Just one month ago, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck western Japan, causing casualties, building collapses, and infrastructure damage.
Foreign Ministry Response
The Italian Embassy in Japan stated that they are monitoring the situation in coordination with the Foreign Ministry.