Japan: Two strong earthquakes shake Miyazaki, and authorities warn of a tsunami

On Thursday, a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake rocked the Miyazaki Prefecture in southern Japan. The USGS reports that the epicenter of Thursday’s earthquake was 30 kilometers below the surface of the ocean. Moments later, a strong aftershock with a magnitude of 7.1 occurred 20 kilometers northeast of Nichinan City at a depth of 25 kilometers. In the wake of the earthquake, officials have issued a tsunami warning. The Hyuga-Nada Sea was the location of the earthquake, according to NERV, Japan’s earthquake monitoring organization. According to officials, waves as high as one meter are predicted in the aftermath of the earthquake. It has been recommended that everyone living close to rivers, lakes, or coastal areas relocate right away to a safer area. In addition to Miyazaki, the prefectures of Kochi, Ehime, Kagoshima, and Oita have all received a tsunami warning, according to NHK, the national broadcaster of Japan. In the meantime, a statement from the Kyushu Electric Power Company claims that the nuclear power facility in Sendai, Kagoshima Prefecture, is operating normally. Similarly, the Ikata nuclear power station in Ehime Prefecture is operating satisfactorily, according to Shikoku Electric Power Company. The Shikoku Electric Power Company was reported in the nHK report as stating that there has been no change in the radiation levels in the surrounding area.