A house damaged by an earthquake in Kagoshima, Japan, in 2024. Image for illustrative purposes. Reuters-Yonhap
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck waters near Hokkaido, Japan, heightening tensions in the region just a week after a magnitude 7.7 quake rattled the area.
According to Japan’s Meteorological Agency and NHK, the quake occurred at around 5:24 a.m. local time Thursday in waters approximately 143 kilometers south-southeast of Asahikawa City in Hokkaido. The focal depth was about 80 kilometers.
The tremor registered a seismic intensity of upper 5 on Japan’s seven-level scale in Urahoro, southeastern Hokkaido, a level at which most people find it difficult to move and unsecured furniture may topple. Niikappu recorded lower 5, while Obihiro measured an intensity of 4.
According to the Asahi Shimbun and other outlets, no tsunami threat has been issued so far, and no casualties have been confirmed. No abnormalities or radiation changes have been reported at nuclear power plants. Hokkaido Electric Power also stated that “there has been no change in surrounding radiation levels.”
Screenshot from the Japan Meteorological Agency website
AloJapan.com