A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Miyazaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan on January 13, 2025, at 21:19 local time (12:19 GMT). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning, predicting waves up to one meter in height could reach the region's coast.
The earthquake registered a level 5 on the Japanese scale in Miyazaki, which measures surface agitation rather than tremor intensity. Most of Kyushu Island experienced a level 4 tremor. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake's magnitude at 6.8.
According to state broadcaster NHK, tsunami waves of up to 20 centimeters have already reached the coasts of Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures, though no significant damage has been reported. The USGS stated that the earthquake lacked characteristics necessary for generating large waves.
Operators of two nuclear power plants in Kagoshima and Ehime prefectures, also in the southwest, reported they are assessing whether any irregularities occurred due to the tremor.