On Tuesday morning (January 6), a strong earthquake struck the western part of Japan. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, at around 10:18 a.m. local time, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture with a depth of about 11 kilometers. The Meteorological Agency promptly issued an emergency earthquake alert and confirmed that this earthquake did not trigger a tsunami.
After the main shock, the same area experienced multiple earthquakes within about 20 minutes. As of 11:30 a.m., there have been over 10 felt earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher.
In addition, some areas in Tottori Prefecture observed “Intensity 4” of Long-Period Ground Motion, the highest level set by the Japan Meteorological Agency. This indicates that sustained and intense shaking may occur in tall buildings, making it difficult for people to stand and limiting movement significantly.
The earthquake also impacted transportation. West Japan Railway Company (JR West) reported that due to the earthquake and localized power outages, the Sanyo Shinkansen line was temporarily suspended in both directions between Okayama and Hiroshima. After completing safety checks, train services resumed at 1:00 p.m. on the same day. Some local railway lines are still suspended for equipment inspections, and the timeframe for full resumption is yet to be determined.
The Japan Meteorological Agency pointed out that the consecutive earthquakes in a short period indicate that stress in the crust of the same area is still being released, potentially leading to similar-scale earthquakes in the future. They urge the public to stay informed about the latest earthquake information and enhance disaster preparedness.
So far, there have been no reports of casualties or major disasters. Local governments and relevant agencies continue to monitor aftershocks and assess the condition of infrastructure.
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It was reported that on the morning of January 6, a powerful earthquake hit western Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that around 10:18 a.m. local time, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture with a depth of about 11 kilometers. The agency immediately issued an emergency earthquake warning and confirmed that no tsunami was triggered by the quake.
Following the main tremor, several earthquakes were recorded in the same area within 20 minutes. As of 11:30 a.m., there have been more than 10 instances of earthquakes with a seismic intensity of level 1 or higher.
In other news, some areas in Tottori Prefecture experienced “Level 4” Long-Period Ground Motion, the highest level designated by the Japan Meteorological Agency. This suggests that prolonged and intense shaking could occur in tall buildings, making it difficult for individuals to stand upright and limiting mobility significantly.
The earthquake also disrupted transportation services. JR West reported that due to the earthquake and local power outages, the Sanyo Shinkansen line temporarily halted operations in both directions between Okayama and Hiroshima. Service resumed at 1:00 p.m. local time after safety inspections. Some local railway lines remain suspended for equipment checks, and the timeline for full service reinstatement is still uncertain.
The Japan Meteorological Agency emphasized that the frequent earthquakes in a short period indicate ongoing stress release in the crust of the same region, potentially leading to similar-scale earthquakes in the future. They urge the public to stay vigilant for the latest earthquake updates and enhance disaster preparedness measures.
As of now, there have been no reports of casualties or significant disasters. Local authorities and relevant organizations are continuously monitoring aftershocks and assessing infrastructure conditions.