Japan: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake strikes offshore of southern Kyushu Feb. 9

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck in the Philippine Sea, south of Kyushu Island, around 1239 Feb. 9. The temblor occurred approximately 169 km (105 miles) south-southeast of Kagoshima. The quake struck at a depth of 35 km (22 miles) and produced light shaking on Tanegashima and Yakushima islands near the epicenter. Weak shaking may have occurred in areas across southern and central Kyushu. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties resulting from the shaking; however, due to the tremor's depth and magnitude, severe damage is unlikely. Aftershocks are possible. Officials have not issued a tsunami warning.

Authorities may temporarily shut down transportation networks in the tremor zone to check for damage, triggering transport disruptions; service will likely quickly resume if officials do not find damage. Landslides on area roadways cannot be ruled out and will exacerbate ground transport disruptions. Utility outages may occur, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred; aftershocks could cause additional damage. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available. Due to the threat of landslides, seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area.