Powerful 6.9 earthquake strikes off northern Japan with no tsunami warning
A strong quake hit off Japan's northern coast, with the Meteorological Agency giving a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and saying there was no danger of a tsunami.
Helena Forsythe
Writer ·
A powerful earthquake struck off Japan's northern coast on Thursday, with the country's Meteorological Agency giving a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and saying there was no danger of a tsunami, the Associated Press reported.
Where it struck
The quake occurred off the eastern coast of Iwate prefecture at a depth of about 50 kilometres. Rail disruption was reported in the region as services were checked, while authorities continued to monitor an area that has experienced repeated strong tremors in recent months.
Japan sits on one of the world's most seismically active zones, and earthquakes of this magnitude are not unusual, though they are always closely watched for aftershocks and potential coastal effects.
What happens next
With no tsunami warning issued, the immediate priority for officials is assessing any damage to infrastructure and restoring disrupted transport links. Residents in the affected area have been urged to stay alert to the possibility of further tremors.
The Meteorological Agency's magnitude figure is preliminary and may be revised as more data is analysed.
Source: This summary is based on reporting by Associated Press. The NE Times aggregates and rewrites news for readability; please refer to the original for the full report.
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