Reacting to the earthquake, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said there was no tsunami concern and that the government was continuing its response through the crisis management office established at the Prime Minister’s Office after the June 25 earthquake.
6.1-magnitude earthquake hits off Iwate coast in Japan
A strong earthquake measuring magnitude 6.1 struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan early Sunday, prompting authorities to monitor the region closely after a series of recent seismic activities. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said there was no risk of a tsunami following the quake. According to the JMA, the earthquake occurred at 5:21 am (local time) at a depth of 41 kilometres.
The quake recorded 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 between intensity levels 4 and 1 were reported across a wide area stretching from Hokkaido to the Kanto-Koshin region.
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The JMA said the earthquake was caused by a reverse fault, with the 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 after the major tremor.
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The agency noted that Sunday’s earthquake occurred in the same area as the offshore Iwate earthquake recorded on June 25, which had reached a maximum seismic intensity of 6+. Authorities warned that regions affected by the June 25 quake should remain cautious about possible strong aftershocks for around a week from the earlier event.
The JMA also cautioned that areas that experienced intense shaking could face an increased risk of rockfalls and landslides, urging residents to stay alert for further seismic activity. The agency clarified that the latest earthquake did not meet the criteria for issuing a warning regarding a possible subsequent earthquake off the coast of Hokkaido and the Sanriku region.
Reacting to the earthquake, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said there was no tsunami concern and that the government was continuing its response through the crisis management office established at the Prime Minister’s Office after the June 25 earthquake.
Takaichi said she had instructed officials to assess damage, provide timely 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 the concerns of residents facing repeated earthquakes in recent days, Takaichi urged people in the affected region to remain vigilant and continue taking precautions in their daily lives.
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