6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Japan sparks tsunami fears | World | News
Japan was hit by a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Monday evening, raising concerns about a possible tsunami.
Reuters reported that the eastern region of Shimane Prefecture was the epicenter of the earthquake, and that the quake hit the Chugoku region around 10:20 a.m., recording an upper 5 above 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in Sakai-Minato, Hino and Kofu Tottori, and Matsua and Yasugi, Shimane prefectures.
According to the Japan Times, the first earthquake at 10:28 was followed by a 5.1 magnitude aftershock with an intensity rating of less than 5.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and assessing possible impacts, including possible aftershocks. This comes just two weeks after a series of earthquakes shook southern Japan, which was already notorious for its regular seismic activity.
Officials confirmed that no tsunami warning has been issued yet.
This information was also confirmed by the Japan Meteorological Agency, providing some relief to worried residents near the natural disaster area.
Tremors were reported for several hours for hundreds of kilometers on Sunday, December 21. Two earthquakes of magnitude 4.1 and 4.4 occurred near Izu Islands within a 6-hour period.
At around 2 a.m. local time, a stronger earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck further north, about 48 miles east of Ohara.
The previous day, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Hachinoe, followed by a 4.3 magnitude earthquake in the same region.
A recent increase in seismic activity has led officials and scientists to warn that there remains a possibility of a major “megaquake” to hit Japan this year; This underscored the ongoing need for disaster preparedness for millions of residents in the region.
Despite numerous tremors, no significant injuries, structural damage or tsunami occurrence have been reported so far.
Historical data for the region, especially in remote island locations, shows that earthquakes below magnitude 5 are unlikely to cause widespread destruction.
Japan is among the most seismically active regions in the world due to its location on multiple tectonic plates.
Thousands of earthquakes are recorded each year in the southern island chains, particularly around the Tokara Islands; these are usually minor but occasionally powerful enough to cause serious disruptions.
