Jakarta, ThedailyID — Japan recorded nine aftershocks by 3:03 p.m. local time on Tuesday, July 28, after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the country’s southern region, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The strongest aftershock measured magnitude 4.5 and struck Kumamoto Prefecture at 2:29 p.m., shortly after the main earthquake.
The JMA also recorded a magnitude 4.2 aftershock at 2:39 p.m., followed by a magnitude 3.8 tremor at 2:42 p.m.
Meanwhile, another magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck Kumamoto at 2:45 p.m. A magnitude 3.4 tremor followed at 2:50 p.m.
Authorities then recorded two magnitude 3.6 aftershocks at 2:53 p.m. and 2:55 p.m.
Later, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake hit at 2:59 p.m. Finally, the ninth aftershock measured magnitude 3.3 at 3:03 p.m.
In addition, the JMA issued a tsunami advisory warning that waves could reach up to one metre.
Authorities also issued earthquake emergency warnings for the prefectures of Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki, all located on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu.
Japan ranks among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries because it sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet.
According to the JMA, the country experiences frequent seismic activity and accounts for around 20% of the world’s earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.0 or higher.
