New earthquake hits Japan, tsunami advisory issued

JAPAN - A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck southern Japan early on Saturday morning, triggering a tsunami advisory.

The quake's epicentre was near the city of Kumamoto and measured at a depth of 40 km the US Geological Survey said.

The USGS minutes earlier reported a 7.1 quake with a depth of 7 km close to the same location.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory, which identifies the presence of a marine threat and asked people to leave coastal regions, for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas.

New earthquake hits Japan, tsunami advisory issued

Local broadcaster NHK said the advisory suggested a possible wave of one metre in height.

The below message was broadcast live on NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) mintues after the quake.

"This is NHK Newsline, we interrupt our regular programming for breaking news.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck off of the coast of Kumamoto prefecture at 1.25 Japan time on Saturday. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a tsunami advisory for the following areas: the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea. Anyone in that area should listen to local authorities and disaster management officials for information and instructions.

 The JMA is calling on people in the area where the tsunami advisory was issued to get out of the water and leave the coast immediately. A marine threat is in place. As a strong current will continue, do not get in the sea or approach the coast until the advisory is lifted. We'll bring you more details as they come in. Once again, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake has just struck off the coast of Kumamoto prefecture and 1.25 Japan time on Saturday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a tsunami advisory for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea area. You're looking at a live picture of the earthquake when it happened. Anyone in this area should listen to local authorities and disaster management officials for information and instructions. The JMA is calling on people in the area where the tsunami advisory is issued to get out of the water and leave the coast immediately. A marine threat is in place. As a strong current will continue, do not get in the sea or approach coasts until the advisory is lifted. We will bring you more details as they come in. Repeating that bulletin, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck off of the coast of Kumamoto prefecture at 1.25 Japan time on Saturday. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a tsunami advisory for Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea areas. Anyone in this area should listen to local authorities and disaster management officials for information and instructions. You're looking at a video of the earthquake when it happened.

The JMA is calling on people in the area where the tsunami advisory was issued to get out of the water and leave the coast immediately. A marine threat is in place right now. As a strong current will continue, do not get in the sea or approach coasts until the advisory is lifted. Once again, a tsunami advisory is now in place for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea areas. We'll bring you more details as they become available."