Strong earthquake strikes off northern Japan, no damage

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) — A strong earthquake struck off the east coast of northern Japan on early Monday, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake at 7.56 a.m. local time (2156 GMT Sunday) was centered approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Morioka, the capital city of Iwate prefecture on Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It struck approximately 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the strength of the earthquake at 6.4 on the Richter scale.

“Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction,” the USGS said. It estimated approximately 76,000 people perceived strong shaking that could potentially cause light to moderate damage.

Another 228,000 people, the agency estimated, would likely have perceived moderate shaking that could result in very light to light damage. Approximately 2,806,000 others felt light shaking.

No tsunami warning was issued as a result of the earthquake, and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

On January 6, 1995, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 76 kilometers (47.2 miles) northwest of Monday’s epicenter. No fatalities were reported in that earthquake.

On June 12, 1978, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 170 kilometers (105.6 miles) south of Monday’s earthquake, killing at least 28 people and injuring nearly 10,000 others. A resulting tsunami struck nearby coastlines, but caused no casualties.

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