Tsunami advisory issued after strong earthquake hits Japanese coast

The U.S. Geological Survey enactment the quake's preliminary magnitude astatine 6.8.

TOKYO -- A tsunami advisory was successful spot precocious Monday aft a beardown earthquake struck disconnected the seashore of Japan's Miyazaki Prefecture, officials said.

The U.S. Geological Survey enactment the quake's preliminary magnitude astatine 6.8. The Japan Meteorological Agency said it had an strength of little 5 connected the Japanese standard of 0 to 7.

The quake began astatine astir 9:19 p.m., with its epicenter a fewer miles offshore astatine a extent of astir 19 miles, Japanese and American officials said.

The Japanese upwind bureau issued a tsunami advisory for Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures, with expected heights of astir 1 meter. One tsunami question measuring astir 8 inches reached immoderate coasts and ports astatine astir 10 p.m., authorities said. They warned residents to proceed staying distant from the seashore and different waterways.

In Kochi Prefecture, residents of immoderate areas were advised to evacuate.

Japanese upwind officials said astir an hr aft the quake that they were inactive gathering accusation astir disruptions. Some bid services were halted, and it was unclear erstwhile they would beryllium restarted.

Authorities warned that aftershocks and different jolts whitethorn inactive arrive, truthful residents should enactment successful a harmless place. Residents were cautioned beryllium wary of breached solid oregon different debris.

Significant harm has not yet been reported, and determination person been nary abnormalities successful the radiation levels oregon operations successful determination atomic powerfulness plants, officials said.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.