​Magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits southern Japan

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near the city of Kumamoto in southern Japan, barely 24 hours after a deadly quake hit the same region.

The quake shook the Kumamoto region at 1:25 a.m. local time Saturday.

The quake occurred at a depth of six miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

On Thursday night the area was hit by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that left nine dead and more than 800 injured.

Japan's Meteorological Agency issued an advisory for a tsunami up to 3 feet along the coast east of the epicenter.

Seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, a Visiting Research Associate at the Seismological Laboratory of Caltech, today called Thursday's 6.5-mag quake a "foreshock," precipitating the larger event.

( Source )