Tsunami warning lifted after magnitude-6.8 quake rocks southern Japan

Japan’s Miyakojima and Yaeyama areas have been placed on high alert with tsunami advisories being issued following a shallow 6.8-magnitude underwater earthquake off Taiwan’s coast. Warnings were lifted after no significant wave activity was registered.

Following the quake, Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami advisories for the Miyakojima and Yaeyama areas of Japan. While JMA issued alerts of high wave activity possibly affecting Japan’s southwestern islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that there was no threat of a tsunami.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the epicenter of the magnitude-6.8 quake was at a shallow point near Yonaguni.

The tsunami warning remained in force for over an hour. No tsunami was recorded, and television footage of a nearby island showed calm seas.

Waves as high as one meter were expected to hit southwestern territories, Japan’s broadcaster NHK said, also warning that smaller waves could potentially strike other areas. There was no warning issued for the main Okinawa island.

Japanese authorities issued a warning for a tsunami of up to 1 meter (3 feet) after a strong earthquake struck Monday in the seas south of Okinawa and east of Taiwan. The warning was cancelled just over an hour later.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the epicenter of the magnitude-6.8 quake was at a shallow point near Yonaguni.

The tsunami warning remained in force for over an hour. No tsunami was recorded, and television footage of a nearby island showed calm seas.

The public broadcaster NHK said there were no initial reports of damage.

Witnesses said buildings swayed in Taipei but there was no visible damage in the Taiwanese capital.

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