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Tsunami alert as quake hits Japan Tsunami alert as quake hits Japan
(10 minutes later)
A tsunami alert has been issued after a earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck off southern Japan. A tsunami alert has been issued in Japan after a powerful earthquake struck near the Okinawan coast.
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at 0531 (2031 GMT) 84km (52 miles) east of Naha, on the island of Okinawa, Reuters news agency reports. The Japan Meteorological Agency gave the strength as 6.9 while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.3.
The quake, only 29km (18 miles) below the seabed, was large enough to trigger at least a tsunami, Reuters said. It struck at 0531 (2031 GMT), 84km (52 miles) east of Naha, on the island of Okinawa, 29km (18 miles) below the seabed, Reuters news agency reports.
Earthquakes often hit Japan. In 1995, a magnitude-7.2 quake in the western port city of Kobe killed 6,400 people. Japan is often hit by earthquakes. In 1995, a magnitude-7.2 quake in the port city of Kobe killed 6,400 people.
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