A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 magnitude struck off Japan’s southern coast on Thursday, triggering a tsunami advisory. Residents were advised to stay away from the coastline, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake’s epicenter was located in waters off the eastern coast of Kyushu, at a depth of about 18.6 miles.

The quake’s strongest tremors were felt in Nichinan city and nearby areas in Miyazaki prefecture on Kyushu island.

The agency reported tsunami waves of up to 1.6 feet were detected along parts of Kyushu’s southern coast and the nearby island of Shikoku approximately 30 minutes after the earthquake occurred.

Seismologists were holding an emergency meeting to assess whether the earthquake had affected the nearby Nankai Trough, a potential source of significant seismic activity.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that officials were assessing potential injuries or serious damage, although none were reported immediately. He urged residents of the affected region to avoid the coastline.

Shigeki Aoki, an official with the Seismology Department, warned that strong aftershocks could occur for approximately a week.

Japan’s NHK public television reported that windows were broken at Miyazaki airport, near the epicenter. The airport’s runway was temporarily closed for safety inspections.

NHK showed footage of dozens of people gathering at a designated hilltop evacuation area.

In Osaki, located in neighboring Kagoshima prefecture, concrete walls collapsed and a wooden house was damaged, but no injuries were reported.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that all 12 nuclear reactors, including three currently operating, on Kyushu and Shikoku remained safe.

Earthquakes in regions with nuclear power plants have been a significant concern since a massive earthquake in March 2011 triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Japan is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.

An earthquake on January 1 in Japan’s north-central region of Noto resulted in over 240 deaths.