EARTHQUAKE NEAR JAPAN'S RYUKYU ISLANDS

On 17 August 2009 an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck approximately 70 mi/110 km southwest of Japan's Ryukyu Islands at 0905 local time. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a warning for a small tsunami for Okinawa Prefecture and Miyako Island after the quake. There were no reports of damage or casualties, and the tsunami warning was lifted at 1000 local time. A second earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck near the same location at 1910 local time at a depth of 6 mi/10 km. The quake was centred approximately 80 mi/130 km south southwest of Ishigaki-jima. A tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake. Taipei, Taiwan, also reportedly felt the quake; however, there were no reports of casualties.