Magnitude 4.9 earthquake — 14 km WSW of Honmachi, Japan

A moderate earthquake has shaken parts of southern Japan this morning, with the tremor centred about 14 kilometres west-southwest of Honmachi on the island of Kyushu.

The United States Geological Survey recorded the quake at magnitude 4.9, striking at just after 1pm UK time (shortly after 4am local time in Japan). The focus was relatively shallow at 10 kilometres depth.

What a magnitude 4.9 feels like

An earthquake of this size is considered moderate. People indoors would likely have felt a distinct shaking, with hanging objects swinging and dishes rattling. Those awake at that early hour might have been startled, and some may have felt unsteady on their feet. It's the sort of tremor that gets your attention but typically causes only minor damage, if any — perhaps items knocked off shelves or small cracks in plaster.

Because it occurred at a fairly shallow depth, the shaking would have been more noticeable near the epicentre than a deeper quake of the same magnitude.

No reports of damage yet

At this stage, there are no confirmed reports of casualties or significant damage, though information is still coming in. Japan's buildings are famously well-engineered to withstand seismic activity, which helps considerably when tremors like this strike.

The region around Honmachi, in Kumamoto Prefecture, is no stranger to earthquakes. Kyushu sits in one of the world's most seismically active zones, and residents are generally well-prepared for such events.

The quake struck in the small hours when most people would have been asleep, which may have been unsettling for those woken by the shaking. However, Japanese early-warning systems are among the best in the world, and many residents would have received alerts on their mobile phones seconds before the shaking arrived.

A familiar rumble

While a 4.9 is nothing to sneeze at, it's worth remembering that Japan experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, most of them too small to notice. This one falls into the category that reminds you to check your emergency kit and make sure the torch batteries still work, but shouldn't cause widespread alarm.

Were you in Kyushu when this one hit, or do you have family or friends out that way? Perhaps you remember the bigger quakes that have struck the region in years past? Do share your experiences or let us know if you've heard from anyone affected.