East Asia
6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes northern Japan
An earthquake occurred off the coast of Aomori prefecture on Tuesday. But no tsunami warning was issued and no major damage was reported immediately.
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A 6.1 magnitude earthquake rocked northern Japan late Tuesday afternoon, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), but no tsunami warning was issued.
The tremor was recorded at 6:18 p.m. (11:18 a.m. in Switzerland) off the northern Aomori department at a depth of 20 km, according to the JMA, and was also felt on the island of Hokkaido. No tsunami warning has been issued, state broadcaster NHK said.
No major damage
The American institute of geological studies USGS measured a magnitude of 6.2. No tsunami warning has been issued, state broadcaster NHK said.
Earthquakes are common in Japan, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Basin.
The country enforces strict building regulations to ensure buildings can withstand strong earthquakes, and regularly holds emergency drills to prepare for a major tremor.
(AFP)