TOKYO and LONDON — A tsunami advisory has been canceled after an earlier warning for a strong earthquake off the coast of Japan’s Miyazaki Prefecture on Monday, officials said.
The US Geological Survey put the earthquake’s preliminary magnitude at 6.8. The Japan Meteorological Agency said it had a low intensity of 5 on Japan’s scale of 0 to 7.
The quake struck around 9:19 p.m. local time, with its epicenter a few kilometers offshore at a depth of about 19 miles, Japanese and American officials said.
Japan’s weather agency issued a tsunami advisory for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures, with a height of about 1 meter expected. A tsunami wave of about 8 inches reached several coasts and ports at 10 p.m., officials said. Residents have been warned to stay away from the coast and other waterways.
Daytime aerial view of Miyazaki city from airplane
Taro Hama/Getty Images, FILE
In Kochi Prefecture, residents of some areas were advised to evacuate.
Japanese weather officials said they were still gathering information about the disruption about an hour after the quake. Some train services were halted, and it was unclear when they would resume.
Authorities warned that aftershocks and other aftershocks are still possible, so residents should stay in a safe place. Residents were warned to be careful of broken glass or other debris.
No major damage has yet been reported, and there have been no abnormalities in radiation levels or operations at nuclear power plants in the region, officials said.
ABC News’ Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
