Authorities said there was no risk of a tsunami and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan’s Iwate Prefecture early Sunday, prompting new warnings for residents already dealing with a series of recent tremors in the region.Authorities said there was no risk of a tsunami and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake occurred at 5:21 a.m. local time at a depth of 41 kilometers. A maximum seismic intensity of less than 5 (-5) was recorded in the city of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture and the village of Fudai in Iwate Prefecture, while tremors of varying intensity were felt from Hokkaido to the Kanto Koshiin region.The JMA said the quake was caused by a reverse fault in the axis of pressure that runs from west-northwest to east-southeast.No additional earthquakes of magnitude 1 or higher were recorded as of 7 a.m. local time, according to news agency ANI.
A new tremor follows a strong earthquake earlier this week
The latest quake occurred in the same offshore Iwate region as a stronger quake with a maximum seismic magnitude of 6+ occurred on June 25, the JMA said.Authorities have already warned that the affected area could be hit by earthquakes of magnitude 6+ for about a week after that previous event.
The agency also warned that areas rocked by recent earthquakes face an increased risk of rockslides and landslides, and urged residents to be vigilant.She explained that Sunday’s earthquake did not meet the criteria for issuing a warning about a subsequent major earthquake off the coast of Hokkaido and the Sanriku region.According to the Associated Press, northeastern Japan has seen a series of large earthquakes in recent days, including a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Thursday in the same general area.The news agency reported that concerns have increased about possible mudslides as the country enters hurricane season.
The Prime Minister says there is no tsunami threat, and the government is monitoring the situation
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaishi said there was “no concern about a tsunami” and stressed that the government was continuing its response through the Crisis Management Office that was established after the June 25 earthquake.“In this area, earthquakes continued, and on the 25th, an earthquake with a maximum seismic magnitude of 6 magnitude higher occurred,” Takaishi said in a post on X, adding that she had instructed officials to assess any damage, provide accurate and timely information, and take all necessary response measures.It also urged residents in the affected areas to remain alert as the series of earthquakes continues.Japan is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.Earlier this week, another strong earthquake struck western Tokyo, prompting the government to activate a task force to assess the damage.
