TOKYO — A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has hit southwestern Japan, the country’s Meteorological Agency said Monday, while warning the public to stay away from coastal areas because of a tsunami threat.

A magnitude 6.9 quake struck off Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan, on Monday evening local time. Tsunami have already reached parts of Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency withdrew a tsunami advisory after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of southwest Japan.

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan late on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, prompting local authorities to issue a tsunami advisory.

The tremors struck at 9.19 pm local time, was centered near Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. The meteorological agency has also warned of possible waves up to one metre.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit Japan's Kyushu region on Monday. The tremor occurred at a depth of 37 km, as reported by the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

Following the tremor, tsunami warnings were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture and the nearby Kochi Prefecture, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Japan's Kyushu region on Monday, according to the Meteorological Agency. Tsunami warnings were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture. The extent of damage was not immediately clear.

Toyota Motor Corp. is considering shifting some production at its central Japan home ground to other areas in a realignment aimed at addressing a labor shortage and natural disaster risks, sources familiar with the matter said Friday.

Masa first encountered Steve Jobs in the mid-1980s at the annual Comdex trade fair in Las Vegas. Sometime in the summer of 1998, they had their first serious conversation under a cherry tree at the Woodside, California, home of Larry Ellison, boss of the Oracle software group and a fellow Japanophile.

The vehicle has hit its fundraising target and received commitments from LPs including Clean Energy Finance Corporation, AP2 and Kyushu Electric Power.