A strong 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan, and a tsunami warning was issued

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the southern coast of Japan tonight, triggering a tsunami warning. The quake struck at 4:43 p.m. local time near Miyazaki Prefecture on Kyushu Island at a depth of about 18.6 miles.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning, warning of waves up to 3.3 feet high off the southern coast of Kyushu and nearby Shikoku Island. The agency urged residents to avoid the ocean and coastal areas until the warning is lifted. Waves as high as 20 inches were reported in Miyazaki Prefecture, NHK reported.

There were no reports of casualties or major damage. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed there were no abnormalities at the nuclear power plant and said the government was assessing the situation. Windows were reportedly smashed at Miyazaki Airport.

The Tonga Meteorological Service said there was no tsunami threat to Tonga.

Japan is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is extremely vulnerable to seismic activity.