Multiple tsunami advisories issued after 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan off Kyushu coast

An enormous earthquake has struck off the coast of Japan’s third-largest island, prompting urgent tsunami advisories to be issued for swathes of shoreline.

The 7.1 magnitude tremor was recorded in the Hyuga-nada Sea off the eastern coast of Kyushu on Thursday afternoon at a depth of 30 kilometres, according to the country’s meteorological agency.

Bullets trains have reportedly halted across the island and there have been reports of minor infrastructure damage.

Tsunami warnings are now current for the coastal areas of Miyazaki, Kochi, Oita, Kagoshima and Ehime prefectures, according to NHK.

Waves with an estimated height of 1 meter are expected and residents are being urged to keep away from shores and riverbanks to avoid the wave surges which can be very unpredictable.

Slight sea level changes have been forecast for many of Japan’s outer islands.

The public broadcaster also reported no problems have been found by employees at the two nuclear power plants on Kyushu.