M7.1 Quake Rocks Southwestern Japan, Raises Risk of Megaquake

Tokyo, Aug. 8 (Jiji Press)--A strong earthquake jolted southwestern Japan on Thursday, measuring up to lower 6, the third-highest level on the country's seismic intensity scale, and raising the risk of a predicted megaquake in the area. 

Thursday's earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.1, occurred at around 4:42 p.m. at a depth of about 30 kilometers off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The seismic intensity of lower 6 was registered in the city of Nichinan.

Following the quake, the agency convened an extraordinary meeting of experts and issued emergency information on the possible Nankai Trough megaquake off the country's southern Pacific coast, urging caution against a gigantic quake. Such information was released for the first time.

The agency also issued tsunami advisories for Miyazaki, Oita and Kagoshima prefectures, all in the Kyushu southwestern region, and Kochi and Ehime prefectures in the Shikoku western region. A tsunami of 50 centimeters was observed at Miyazaki Port.

No abnormalities have been confirmed after the quake at Shikoku Electric Power Co.'s Ikata nuclear plant in Ehime and Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Sendai nuclear plant in Kagoshima, according to the secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

At a press conference, Shigeki Aoki, a senior official of the meteorological agency, called on people to stay away from the sea and coasts, and to beware of earthquakes with intensities of around lower 6 over the next week or so.

The Japanese government set up a disaster response office at the crisis management center at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed related officials to make full efforts to rescue afflicted people and take other necessary measures.

He also urged the staff to provide accurate information about tsunami and evacuation in a timely manner to help prevent people from suffering injuries during evacuation, and figure out the extent of damage swiftly.

Kishida asked people in the affected areas to remain vigilant for strong aftershocks and take measures to protect their lives.

END