6.1-magnitude earthquake hits Japan's Iwate coast; no tsunami risk: JMA

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck off the coast
of Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan early Sunday, the Japan
Meteorological Agency (JMA) 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 25 June offshore Iwate earthquake, which
recorded a maximum seismic intensity of 6.
Authorities warned that areas
affected by the 25 June 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 that the government was continuing its response
through the crisis management office established at the Prime Minister's Office
following the 25 June 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.
















