A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck southern Japan earlier this Saturday morning, triggering a tsunami advisory.

The quake’s epicentre was near the city of Kumamoto and measured at a depth of 40 km (25 miles), the United States Geological Survey said.

The USGS minutes earlier reported a 7.1 quake with a depth of 7 km close to the same location.

The Japan Meteorological Agency had issued a tsunami advisory, which identifies the presence of a marine threat and asks people to leave coastal regions, for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas. Local broadcaster NHK said the advisory suggested a possible wave of one metre in height.

Japan quake update: reports of residents trapped under rubble https://t.co/DJN5pnt8OJ

— Sean Breslin (@Sean_Breslin) April 15, 2016

Prelim. magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Japan: https://t.co/6Rym2PKMZW pic.twitter.com/KRChCLiw8j

— USGS in Washington (@USGS_WA) April 15, 2016

According to BBC reports, Tsunami warning were issued immediately after the quake have been called off.

Some people are reported trapped in houses in various areas.