Strong earthquake with 7.1 magnitude hits off southern Japan, sparking new concern over major quakes

A strong earthquake struck off southern Japan on Thursday, inflicting principally minor accidents however elevating the extent of concern over doable main quakes stemming from an undersea trough east of the coast.

The quake prompted seismologists to carry an emergency assembly through which they raised the extent of danger of main quakes related to the Nankai Trough — the supply of previous devastating earthquakes — east of southern Japan. They issued an evaluation that the potential for a future quake within the space from Kyushu to central Japan is increased than beforehand predicted. 

The company mentioned it is going to proceed to intently watch actions of plates close to the Nankai Trough.

That doesn’t imply there’s an imminent hazard of an enormous quake within the close to future, however they urged residents on the coasts alongside the trough — which spans about 500 kilometers (310 miles) — to evaluation their quake preparedness, College of Tokyo seismologist Naoshi Hirata, a member of an skilled panel, advised a joint information convention with JMA officers.

There’s a 70-80% likelihood of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake stemming from the Nankai Trough inside the subsequent 30 years, Hirata mentioned, including that Thursday’s quake raises that chance even whereas the timing or precise location can’t be predicted. He urged residents to maintain their warning ranges excessive for per week in the interim.

Thursday’s quake registered magnitude 7.1 and was centered in waters off the jap coast of Kyushu at a depth of about 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) beneath sea floor, the Japan Meteorological Company mentioned. The quake most strongly shook Nichinan metropolis and close by areas in Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu island.

The company mentioned tsunami waves of as much as 50 centimeters (1.6 ft) have been detected alongside elements of Kyushu’s southern coast and the close by island of Shikoku a couple of half hour after the quake struck. Tsunami advisories have been issued, however lifted for many areas three hours later, and for all remaining coastlines 5 and a half hours later.

Officers mentioned 9 individuals have been injured on Japan’s southern most important island of Kyushu, however the accidents have been principally minor. There have been no stories of great harm.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida advised reporters that the federal government disaster administration group was to step up catastrophe preparedness, and known as on residents to pay shut consideration to data from the authorities in case of one other large one and by no means to unfold disinformation.

The United States Geological Survey gave Thursday’s earthquake a yellow alert for estimated financial losses, which means “some harm is feasible and the impression needs to be comparatively localized.” It gave the quake a inexperienced alert for estimated fatalities, which means “there’s a low chance of [shaking-related] casualties.”  

JMA Seismology Division official Shigeki Aoki warned that robust aftershocks may happen for a couple of week.

Japan’s NHK public tv mentioned home windows have been damaged on the Miyazaki airport close to the epicenter. The airport’s runway was quickly closed for security checks.

Kyushu “shinkansen” super-express trains returned to regular operations after momentary security checks, however various native practice strains within the quake-hit areas have been to be suspended by means of Friday, in keeping with Kyushu Railway Co.

NHK confirmed dozens of individuals gathering at a chosen hilltop evacuation space.

In Osaki in neighboring Kagoshima prefecture, concrete partitions collapsed and a picket home was broken, however no accidents have been reported.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority mentioned all 12 nuclear reactors, together with three which are at the moment working, on Kyushu and Shikoku remained secure.

Earthquakes in areas with nuclear energy vegetation have been a serious concern since a large earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 triggered the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe.

Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Hearth,” a line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean, and is among the world’s most earthquake-prone international locations.

An earthquake on Jan. 1 in Japan’s north-central region of Noto left greater than 240 individuals lifeless.  

contributed to this report.