Magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocks Japan as tsunami warning issued

 

TOKYO and LONDON -- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked southern Japan on Tuesday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami advisory for the coasts of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea.

The earthquake occurred in Kumamoto Prefecture shortly before 4:30 p.m. local time at a depth of just over 6 miles, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Japanese news station NHK reported that the quake lasted for around one minute.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said in an emergency update that it had not recorded "abnormalities" at nearby facilities in Ikata and Genkai.

Officials have urged people to stay away from the ocean and the sea shore.