An earthquake measuring 6.9 struck off the coast of Japan on Monday, January 13, 2025, leading to a tsunami warning for several coastal regions.

The earthquake occurred at 9:19 PM local time, with its epicentre located approximately 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) off the coast of Kyushu. 

According to sources, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued the warning immediately after the tremor, advising residents in affected areas to move to higher ground and stay tuned to local emergency broadcasts.

Initial reports suggest the quake was felt across several areas, but no significant damage or casualties have been reported at this time.  

It is not the first time the country has been hit with earthquakes or tsunamis. Japan is prone to seismic activity because of its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean where several earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.  

The most devastating in recent history was the Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11, 2011, which had a magnitude of 9.0 and led to over 18,000 deaths and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.