<p>Tokyo: An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 hit southwestern Japan on Thursday, triggering tsunami advisories, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, but there were no immediate signs of major damage.</p><p>There have been no reports of abnormalities at nuclear power plants following the quake, and the government is checking for damage and casualties, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.</p><p>The quake occurred at around 4:43 pm (0743 GMT) off Miyazaki prefecture on the western major island of Kyushu, the JMA said.</p><p>In Miyazaki, waves as high as 50 cm (20 inches) have already been observed, public broadcaster <em>NHK</em> said.</p>
<p>Tokyo: An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 hit southwestern Japan on Thursday, triggering tsunami advisories, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, but there were no immediate signs of major damage.</p><p>There have been no reports of abnormalities at nuclear power plants following the quake, and the government is checking for damage and casualties, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.</p><p>The quake occurred at around 4:43 pm (0743 GMT) off Miyazaki prefecture on the western major island of Kyushu, the JMA said.</p><p>In Miyazaki, waves as high as 50 cm (20 inches) have already been observed, public broadcaster <em>NHK</em> said.</p>