Residents in Japan’s Shimane and Tottori regions experienced a significant 6.2 magnitude earthquake Tuesday, but authorities confirmed no tsunami warning. The Japan Weather Agency’s update brought quick reassurance amid the shakes.
Shaking began at 10:18 AM in Shimane’s eastern area, hitting upper 5 on the seven-stage intensity scale. Subsequent quakes at 10:28 AM (lower 5 or 5.1) and 10:37 AM (5.4 magnitude) followed swiftly. Originating 10 km underground, the quakes were strongly felt locally.
Fortunately, no injuries have surfaced, and the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant in Matsue detected nothing unusual. Power outages disrupted Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train services between Okayama and Hiroshima, according to JR West, with resumption eyed for 1 PM and delays rippling through other lines.
Just last December 31, a 5.7 quake off Iwate’s eastern coast at 30 km depth registered 4 in Morioka on the JMA scale, sans tsunami alert. As a hotspot in the Ring of Fire, Japan maintains robust earthquake monitoring and response systems to mitigate risks from such natural disasters.