Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes northeastern Japan, no tsunami warning issued

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A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Japan early Wednesday, injuring three people, but there was no tsunami risk and no major property damage was reported, the meteorological agency and local authorities said.

The meteorological agency said the quake occurred at 2:46 a.m. and registered 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Hashikami, Aomori Prefecture, with a focus in the Pacific Ocean off Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 56 km.

At an intensity level above 5, many people find it difficult to move and to walk difficult without holding onto something secured.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, Tohoku Electric Power Corporation said that no anomalies were found at the two nuclear power plants in Aomori and Miyagi prefectures.

The pre-dawn earthquake prompted the central government to set up a liaison office in the Prime Minister’s Office to collect information.

The Meteorological Agency initially reported a strength of 6.0, but later adjusted downward to 5.9, with the depth of focus corrected to 56 km from 50 km.

The meteorological agency said the quake also registered below 5 in Iwate Prefecture and part of Aomori Prefecture. The earthquake was also felt in some areas of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island.

The Meteorological Agency warned of the possibility of additional earthquakes recording seismic intensity of the highest 5 within a week, noting that the greatest danger will be in the next few days.

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Key words

Earthquakes, Aomori.

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