Tsunami triggered after magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits Japan

KAGOSHIMA KYUSHU, JAPAN (KUSI) – A preliminary magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Japan’s south-western coast Saturday at approximately 9:51 p.m. UTC(JTZ), causing a 30cm (1ft) tsunami to be registered.

A yellow-level tsunami warning was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) three regions. "Get out of the water and leave the coast immediately. As the strong current will continue, do not get in the sea or approach coasts until the advisory is cleared,” the agency said. 

The quake, which happened at a depth of around 10km (six miles), was recorded 90 miles south-west of the town of Makurazaki, Japan, per the U.S. Geological Survey agency.

According to the National Tsunami Warning Center, there was no immediate tsunami danger to British Columbia, or the U.S. West Coast, including Alaska. "Based on earthquake information and historic tsunami records, the earthquake was not sufficient to generate a tsunami," the warning center said.

A tsunami warning was also issued for the Kagoshima and Satsunan islands, but was later lifted.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

In 2011, a devastating magnitude-8.9 earthquake hit Japan, causing over 15,000 deaths in the north-eastern part of the country. It was the fourth-largest earthquake on record since 1900, and the largest to hit Japan. More than 230,000 citizens have yet to return to their home towns since the disaster.