A strong earthquake struck southwestern Japan, the U.S. Geological Survey said, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami advisory.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami advisory after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of southwest Japan.

TOKYO -- A tsunami advisory was issued for part of southwest Japan after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Monday, but the warnings to stay away from coastal areas were later lifted. A few instances of minor damage were reported. Japan’s Meteorological Agency initially estimated the magnitude was 6.9 but later revised it to 6.6.

A nearly 7.0 earthquake rocked southern Japan on Monday with no reports of damage to the two nuclear power plants in the area.

JAPAN issued a tsunami advisory after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the country on Monday. The quake was at a depth of 23 miles and mainly hit the southwestern Kyushu region, said

Public broadcaster NHK TV said a tsunami, estimated to be as high as 1 metre, reached land within 30 minutes of the quake.

The quake was centered just offshore of Kyushu, about 7 miles east of the coastal town of Miyazaki, about 520 miles southwest of Tokyo. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded it as a preliminary 6.8-magnitude quake, and data from the agency indicated “strong” shaking in Miyazaki.

TOKYO — A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has hit southwestern Japan, the country’s Meteorological Agency said Monday, while warning the public to stay away from coastal areas because of a tsunami threat.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off south-western Japan late on Monday, causing small tsunamis in the area but no major damage was reported.

Japan’s position along the “Ring of Fire”, a string of hundreds of volcanoes and earthquake sites in the Pacific Ocean, makes it vulnerable to frequent earthquakes. Here is how.