Strong earthquakes strike Japan; Tsunami warnings issued

April 20, 2007

According to the USGS numerous earthquakes ranging from magnitudes 5.1 to 6.1 have been reported off the western coast of Japan, prompting tsunami warnings to be issued. The warnings were lifted a short time later.

The first quake, a 6.0 magnitude, was reported at 9:26 a.m. local time (00:26 UTC), 165 km (105 miles) north, north east of Ishigaki-jima, in the Ryukyu Islands in Japan.

The second quake of 5.6 magnitude struck just five minutes after the first and a 6.1 magnitude quake struck just over an hour later, followed by a magnitude 5.9 about 15 minutes later.

Japan's weather agency says the first and last quakes were actually 6.7 magnitude.

Three smaller quakes ranging from 5.1 to 5.3 magnitudes shortly followed.

The tsunami warnings were issued only after Japan's weather agency said that an 18-inch (46cm) wave could be a possibility.

There are no reports of damage, injuries, deaths or tsunamis.