Southern Japan hit by strong quake near Nankai Trough region

Tsunami advisories issued for southern prefectures of Miyazaki and Kochi after quake, says report

By Reuters
January 13, 2025
Japan Meteorological Agency warns of possible tsunami waves of up to one metre (three feet) high. — Screengrab via JMA

Southern Japan was hit by a strong earthquake on Monday that authorities said did not warrant the kind of megaquake warning that was triggered for the first time last year.

A quake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 struck the Kyushu region at 9:19 p.m. (0019 GMT) on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. After an investigation, the JMA said the quake did not warrant special measures related to seismic activity in the Nankai Trough.

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The Nankai Trough, where the Philippine Sea Plate is slipping under the Eurasia Plate at the bottom of the sea off the southwest coast of Japan, produces massive earthquakes about every 100-150 years. Strong quakes nearby are seen as a potential indication that a megaquake could be more likely.

The JMA in August issued a week-long advisory for a "relatively higher chance" of a megaquake as powerful as magnitude 9 after a magnitude-7.1 quake hit the country's southwest.

Map shows epicentre of earthquake that struck off southwestern Japan late on Monday. — Screengrab via Japan Meteorological Agency

After Monday's quake, tsunami advisories for waves of a maximum height of one metre (3.3 ft) were issued for the southern prefectures of Miyazaki and Kochi. A 20-centimetre (7.8 inches) tsunami was later recorded reaching Miyazaki city, public broadcaster NHK reported.

All tsunami advisories were lifted around 0250 GMT.

There were no abnormalities reported at the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant in western Japan or the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture, NHK said, referring to the two plants nearest to where the quake occurred.

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