Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Strikes Northern Japan, No Tsunami Warning Issued
Tokyo-A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Japan on Thursday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), though authorities confirmed there was no tsunami threat and no immediate reports of major damage.
The earthquake occurred off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of approximately 50 kilometers. The strongest shaking was felt in parts of northern Honshu, including the town of Hashikami.
Residents reported only minor damage. One local resident told media that a photo frame had fallen from a shelf during the tremor. Television footage from nearby cities showed normal traffic conditions and functioning infrastructure shortly after the quake.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that some train services were temporarily suspended as a precaution while safety inspections were carried out.
Japan is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire where several major tectonic plates meet. The country experiences hundreds of earthquakes annually and accounts for roughly 18 percent of global seismic activity.
The latest quake comes just two months after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck offshore near Iwate on April 20. Following that event, Japanese authorities issued a special advisory warning of an elevated risk of earthquakes measuring magnitude 8.0 or greater. The advisory was lifted after one week.
The memory of the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami remains strong across the country. That magnitude 9.0 disaster killed or left missing around 18,500 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear accident.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and have urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks, though no major disruptions have been reported so far.
