Japan’s Meteorological Agency announced that a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Hokkaido in Japan on Saturday at 2:07 p.m. The quake had a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles) and did not trigger a tsunami.
Following the main tremor, a series of aftershocks occurred. At 2:19 p.m., a 4.4-magnitude earthquake hit the same region. By 4:45 p.m., a 3.5-magnitude quake struck near Shikoku, and at 5:07 p.m., a 4.7-magnitude earthquake occurred near Kushiro.
The Meteorological Agency mentioned that the epicenter of the earthquake was near the east coast of Hokkaido, but no tsunami warning was issued.
Earthquakes can cause changes in sea levels, but it is expected that the wave height will be less than 0.2 meters. Residents in coastal areas are advised to be cautious.
As of now, there have been no reports of property damage or casualties. Authorities will continue to monitor the further developments of seismic activities.
Japan is situated above four major tectonic plates on the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. With a population of around 125 million people, Japan experiences approximately 1,500 earthquakes a year, accounting for about 18% of the world’s total earthquakes.
On September 6, 2018, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Hokkaido, resulting in over 40 fatalities and nearly 700 injuries.
This article was based on a report from The Indian Express.