Emergency earthquake alert in Japan as massive 7.1-mag tremor strikes sparking tsunami fears

A POWERFUL 7.1-magnitude earthquake has rocked Japan sparking fears of a tsunami. The tremor hit the island of Kyushu at 7.27am UK time – and measured at the highest possible level seven on Japan’s own scale of shaking. An aerial view shows Mt. Sakurajima in Kagoshima, southwestern Japan Credit: Reuters The tsunami could measure up to 3ft and arrive at around 5pm (8am UK time), the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Broadcaster NHK said that waves of up to that level may already hit the country. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Officials said there were no immediate abnormalities recorded at Japan’s nuclear power plants. A quake with a magnitude of 7.2 hit northern Japan on June 25 but caused no deaths or major damage. Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active countries, sitting on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, typically experiences hundreds of jolts every year and accounts for about 18 per cent of the world’s earthquakes. The majority are mild, although the damage they cause varies according to their location and the depth below the Earth’s surface at which they strike. In 2011, a huge 9.0-magnitude undersea quake triggered a tsunami that killed or left missing around 18,500 people and wrecked the Fukushima nuclear plant. Most read in The Sun On April 20 this year, a 7.7 tremor hit the country’s north, injuring at least 10 people and shaking large buildings in Tokyo. It prompted authorities to issue a special advisory warning of an increased risk of earthquakes of magnitude 8.0 or stronger. The advisory was lifted after a week. More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us on TikTok @TheSun. Comment now