A MASSIVE earthquake has rocked Japan sparking a tsunami warning.
The first waves hit the city of Miyazaki on the southwestern island of Kyushu less than 30 minutes after the 7.1 magnitude quake.
XA tsunami warning has been issued in Japan after a huge earthquake[/caption]
XFootage at a bowling alley showed people rushing to take shelter as the shaking lasted more than two minutes[/caption]
Warnings have been issued for several coastal areas of Kyushu and the nearby island of Shikoku, according to public broadcaster NHK.
Officials have urged people to immediately move to higher ground as one-metre waves are expected to smash the coast.
The 6.9-magnitude earthquake was followed by a 7.1 tremor off the island of Kyushu, the US Geological Survey said.
The first quake struck at a depth of 33km – with the second at 25km, the agency said.
Shocking footage taken at a bowling alley shows TV screens swinging violently from the ceiling as shaking lasts for more than two minutes.
The Japanese government has set up a special task force in response to the quakes.
It comes after Japan was hit by a devastating earthquake on New Year’s Day – leaving at least 318 dead and thousands of homes destroyed.
The 7.6 magnitude quake sparked a tsunami – with waves reaching heights of 21ft in some areas.
And a string of huge aftershocks toppled buildings, caused fires and knocked out infrastructure.
Three people are still missing after the disaster.
Sitting on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, Japan is one of the world’s most tectonically active countries.
Home to around 125 million people, the country experiences around 1,500 jolts every year and accounts for around 18 per cent of the world’s earthquakes.
The majority are mild – but the damage they cause varies according to their location and the depth below the Earth’s surface at which they strike.
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