A preliminary magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook southwestern Japan on Monday, as reported by the country’s meteorological agency, while warning the public to stay away from coastal areas due to the tsunami threat.
Tsunami warnings were issued for Miyazaki prefecture, the epicenter of the earthquake on the southwestern island of Kyushu, and for Kochi prefecture, shortly after the earthquake occurred at 9:19 p.m., according to the agency.
There were no immediate reports of damage. Residents in the coastal city of Kochi were instructed to evacuate as a precautionary measure.
The public television channel NHK reported that a tsunami, estimated to be up to 1 meter (3.2 feet) high, reached the shore about 30 minutes after the earthquake. Waters detected at Miyazaki port measured 20 centimeters (0.7 feet) high, according to reports.
The earthquake, with an epicenter at a depth of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles), shook a wide area in Kyushu, the main island in the southwest, said the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Japan is located in the so-called "Ring of Fire", an arc of volcanoes and geological faults in the Pacific Basin that is prone to earthquakes.
Images from NHK television showed traffic moving and well-lit streets, indicating that electricity was still functioning. No problems were detected in the various monitoring stations for nuclear plants in the area.