Earthquake Stikes Near Ryukyu Islands in Southern Japan

On 7 February 2010 a preliminary 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck near the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan off the eastern Taiwanese coast. The undersea quake struck at a depth of 10 mi/16 km and was centered in an area about 155 mi/250 km west of Taiwan. Eyewitnesses in Taipei reported feeling the strong tremor, although there were no reports of damage or injuries. Although the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center determined that there was little chance of the quake producing a destructive wave, the Japanese government issued a localized tsunami warning for the Ryukyu Islands area and advised that a small wave of around 1.6 ft/50 cm was likely to come ashore. The tsunami warning was withdrawn an hour later.