(Image via USGS)
Another major earthquake has struck Japan.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan’s Kyushu Island early Saturday morning local time (12:25 p.m. EST Friday).
This comes a day after 6.2 and 6.0 magnitude foreshocks wreaked havoc on the region.
“The April 15, 2016 M 7.0 earthquake north of Kumamoto, on the island of Kyushu in southwest Japan, occurred as the result of strike-slip faulting at shallow depth,” the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports. “The April 15, 2016, M 7.0 event occurred one day after a series of foreshocks in the same region, which included M 6.2 and M 6.0 earthquakes.”
“The quake's epicenter was in Kumamoto prefecture, just miles from the location of Thursday's temblor that killed nine people and left more than 800 injured,” reports The Weather Channel.
A tsunami advisory is currently in effect for areas southern Japan.
Two have been reported dead and widespread damage is expected.
We will provide updates as further information comes to light.