6.1-magnitude earthquake hits off Iwate coast in Japan; no tsunami risk, says JMA
Tokyo, June 28
A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan early Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, adding that there is no risk of a tsunami from the quake.
According to the JMA, the earthquake occurred at 5:21 am (local time) at a depth of 41 kilometres.
The quake registered a maximum seismic intensity of lower 5 (5-) on Japan's seismic intensity scale in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, and Fudai Village, Iwate Prefecture. Tremors ranging in intensity from 4 to 1 were felt across areas extending from Hokkaido to the Kanto-Koshin region.
The agency said the earthquake was caused by a reverse fault with a pressure axis running in the west-northwest to east-southeast direction.
As of 7:00 am (local time), no additional earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher had been recorded following the event.
The JMA noted that the earthquake occurred in the same area as the June 25 offshore Iwate earthquake, which recorded a maximum seismic intensity of 6+.
Authorities warned that areas affected by the June 25 quake should remain alert for earthquakes of up to seismic intensity 6+ for about a week from the earlier event.
The agency also cautioned that regions which experienced strong shaking may face an increased risk of rockfalls and landslides, urging residents to remain vigilant for further seismic activity. It further clarified that the earthquake does not meet the criteria for issuing a warning regarding a subsequent earthquake off the coast of Hokkaido and the Sanriku region.
Reacting to the earthquake, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a post on X that there was no concern of a tsunami and was continuing its response through the crisis management office established at the Prime Minister's Office following the June 25 earthquake.
Takaichi said she had instructed officials to assess the damage, provide timely and accurate information to the public, and take all necessary response measures.
"There is no concern for a tsunami," the post read. "In this region, earthquakes have been continuing, and on the 25th, an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 6-upper occurred. As the government, we are continuing to address the situation through the crisis management office established at the Prime Minister's Office the other day, and I have once again issued instructions for grasping the damage situation, providing timely and accurate information to the public, and other measures," she added.
Acknowledging that residents in the affected region have been facing a series of earthquakes in recent days, she urged them to remain vigilant and continue taking precautions in their daily lives.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The PM's quick response and clear communication is reassuring. But the constant aftershocks must be terrifying for locals. Hope everyone stays safe. Also, India should learn from Japan's disaster management - we're not as prepared despite having major quakes in the past.
Interesting how the article mentions the pressure axis direction - west-northwest to east-southeast. Shows how specific and scientific the JMA's reporting is. Meanwhile, our news channels would be showing sensational graphics and speculating about 'big one' for hours. No wonder Japan is a global leader in seismology. 🇯🇵
This region of Japan has seen a lot since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Glad this one doesn't pose a tsunami threat. The rockfall and landslide warnings are smart - often those cause more damage than the quake itself in hilly areas. Hope our hill stations also have similar advisories in place.
Slight criticism: The JMA saying 'no tsunami risk' but then warning about rockfalls for a week shows how unpredictable these events are. There's always residual risk. Also, Japan's intensity scale (5-) can be confusing for outsiders. India uses the Modified Mercalli scale for comparison.
Good to see transparent updates from the JMA. The depth of 41 km helps reduce surface shaking intensity. In India too, deeper quakes like the 2015 Nepal one (8 km depth) cause more damage. Japan's experience is invaluable - we should study their post-quake protocols for our own cities. 👏
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