Two powerful earthquakes struck off the southern coast of Japan on Thursday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami warning for several coastal areas.

The first quake, measured at 6.9 magnitude, hit at around 4:42 pm local time about 29 kilometers southeast of Miyazaki city on the island of Kyushu.

This was followed less than a minute later by a 7.1 magnitude tremor, with its epicenter 20 kilometers northeast of Miyazaki.

The agency warned that tsunamis of up to one meter in height were expected to hit parts of the Kyushu and Shikoku islands.

Residents were advised to evacuate coastal areas immediately and not approach the shoreline until the warning is lifted.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the earthquakes. The Japanese government has set up a special task force to monitor the situation.

Japan is situated along the “Ring of Fire,” a highly seismic region where tectonic plates collide. The country experiences around 1,500 earthquakes per year, accounting for 18% of the world’s total.

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The latest quakes come just over six months after a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan in January 2024, killing around 18,500 people. Japan has strict building codes to withstand such powerful seismic events, but the country remains vulnerable to the devastating impacts of major earthquakes and tsunamis.

Authorities have urged the public to heed all warnings and evacuation orders, as the risk of additional powerful tremors and dangerous tsunami waves persists in the aftermath of Thursday’s twin quakes.