An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 hit Japan’s northeastern region early Sunday, triggering panic among people, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), adding that the epicentre was roughly at a dept of 40 kilometers. It warned of future earthquakes in the region.ย
According to local authorities, the quake occurred around 5.21 am local time, and it registered “a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.”ย
No casualties or any kind of damages has been reported as of now. The authorities have not issue a tsunami warning either. However, the latest series of earthquakes in Japan has triggered panic among the locals and the government.ย
Sunday’s earthquake comes just days after a 7.2 magnitude quake struck the country’s northern part, whose tremors were also felt in the capital city of Tokyo. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter was 44 kilometers deep off Iwate Prefecture’s coast.
The earthquake was so severe that it shook buildings and people were running and taking shelters. Multiple videos had also gone viral on social media that showed the intensity of the quake. Fortunately, no tsunami warning was issued by authorities.
But authorities had warned that people should remain alert for future earthquakes for nearly a week, particularly those living near the Japan Trench and Kuril Trench.ย
Later, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged people to remain vigilant for future earthquakes and said she has instructed the authorities to assess damages and provide “timely and accurate information” to the public.ย
“I understand that residents are going through anxious times, but I ask that you remain vigilant and do not let your guard down,” The Japan Times quoted Takaichi as saying.
Japan sits on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’. The country is located in a region where four major tectonic plates interact — Pacific Plate, Philippine Sea Plate, Eurasian Plate and North American Plate — making it extremely prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.ย
According to a data, the country records somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 earthquakes each year, but most of them are too small to feel and only some can cause any damage. Considering this, Japan has prepared itself for over the years, making earthquake-resistant buildings and putting up a nationwide quake warning system.ย
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