TOKYO - A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 shook southern Japan on Aug 8, but no major damage was reported and only relatively minor tsunami waves lashed the coast.
The quake hit at 4.42pm off Kyushu at a depth of 25km, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.
The USGS had initially reported two strong quakes, with magnitudes of 6.9 and 7.1, but later said there had been only one tremor.
Japan Issued Its First ‘Megaquake’ Warning After Powerful Tremor
Government alerts public after earthquake on Thursday
Bullet trains running at reduced speeds until warning lifts
A USGS ShakeMap of an earthquake off Japan’s southern coast on Aug. 8.Source: USGS
By Shoko Oda
August 9, 2024 at 9:59 AM GMT+8
Corrected
August 9, 2024 at 10:32 AM GMT+8
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An earthquake off the coast of Japan’s southern island of Kyushu prompted the government to issue its first-ever warning for a megaquake from an undersea trough running southeast along the archipelago.
Bullet trains were running at reduced speeds, national broadcaster NHK is permanently displaying cautionary graphics and a semiconductor factory temporarily halted production. https://www.bloomberg.com/tips/