Japanese coast hit by 6.8 magnitude earthquake, tsunami advisory issued

TOKYO — A tsunami advisory was in place late Monday after a strong earthquake struck off the coast of Japan’s Miyazaki Prefecture, officials said.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake’s preliminary magnitude was 6.8. Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency stated that it had an intensity of lower 5 on the Japanese scale, which ranges from 0 to 7.

The quake began at around 9:19 p.m., with its epicenter a few miles offshore at a depth of about 19 miles, Japanese and American officials said.

Following the earthquake, the Japanese weather agency issued a tsunami advisory for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures, with expected wave heights around 1 meter. Authorities observed a tsunami wave of about 8 inches reaching some coasts and ports around 10 p.m. They urged residents to remain vigilant and stay away from the shoreline and any bodies of water.

In Kochi Prefecture, residents of some areas were advised to evacuate.

An hour post-earthquake, Japanese weather officials revealed that they were still in the process of collecting information on any disruptions caused. Some train services were temporarily suspended, leaving uncertainty on the timeline for resumption of services.

Authorities warned that aftershocks and other jolts may still arrive, so residents should stay in a safe place. Residents were cautioned be wary of broken glass or other debris.

Significant damage has not yet been reported, and there have been no abnormalities in the radiation levels or operations in regional nuclear power plants, officials said.

ABC News’ Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.