By Blake Wolf, OAN Staff
Friday, August 9, 2024 10:52 AM
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the island on Thursday, sending aftershocks across the island and forcing residents to evacuate, and authorities issued a tsunami watch, but scientists have warned that an even bigger one could follow the initial one.
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According to the JMA, a survey showed that of 1,437 earthquakes measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, six earthquakes measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale occurred in the same area within a week of the first earthquake.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported, “Based on these circumstances, it is believed that the possibility of a large earthquake occurring in the expected epicenter region of the Nankai Trough is relatively higher than usual.”
Japanese officials reportedly gathered in an emergency meeting to discuss issuing warnings to better prepare residents for a second major earthquake, which is now expected but not guaranteed.
Residents captured the initial quake on video and reported several minor injuries.
“The shaking was very strong,” said Takeyoshi Takeuchi, a resident of Kyushu. “People were reporting that dishes were falling out of their kitchens and that elevators and kitchens at nearby hotels were unusable.”
The tsunami warning was subsequently lifted in all areas except Miyazaki.
The island appears to have escaped major damage, and the local nuclear power plant has not reported any abnormalities.
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