A strong earthquake hits western Japan, followed by several other tremors

A series of earthquakes shook Shimane and Tottori Prefectures on Tuesday morning, starting with a magnitude of 6.4 at 10:18 a.m. and measuring 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale.

While no official information on injuries or damage has been released, NHK reported that five people were sent to hospitals and some buildings were damaged in the aftermath of the quake.

The epicenter of the initial quake, which occurred at a depth of 11 kilometers, was recorded in eastern Shimane Prefecture, but tremors were felt across wide areas of western Japan, triggering early warnings via television broadcasts and mobile phones.

A magnitude 5 earthquake was recorded at Matsu and Yasugi in Shimane, as well as at Sakaiminato, Hino and Kōfu in Tottori. The Japan Meteorological Agency said there was no tsunami threat.

As of 5 p.m., 21 earthquakes had followed the initial aftershock in the area, including a 5.1 magnitude quake with a weak 5 on the intensity scale.

The Japan Meteorological Agency observed a long-period Level 4 ground motion — the strongest designation — in western Tottori. This was the first time a Level 4 alert was observed in the prefecture, and it was the first Level 4 to be issued since the strong January 2024 earthquake on the Noto Peninsula. People living in high-rise buildings or large bridges are advised to be careful when encountering long-term ground motion, which causes prolonged back-and-forth shaking, the agency said.

The JMA also warned that earthquakes of magnitude 5 or higher could occur over the next week, especially over the next two to three days.

“Seismic activity is still active in the area. There is a possibility of an earthquake with a magnitude exceeding 5, so please be careful,” said Ayataka Ebita, JMA official in charge of the Earthquake and Tsunami Department.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Sanae Takaishi said the government was assessing the extent of the damage and asked local residents to make necessary preparations for possible aftershocks of the same level.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said that as of 11 a.m., nuclear power plants in the area were not affected by the quake. Shimane Prefecture hosts a plant operated by Chugoku Electric Power Company.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force said on X that it would conduct a damage assessment in the affected areas.

Due to the power outage caused by the earthquake, JR West suspended services on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line between Hiroshima and Okayama stations. The line returned to normal operation at 1pm

A series of early warning warnings and earthquakes shook the nerves in the region. News footage showed power lines swaying and buildings shaking, while TV anchors from the area wore hard hats.

In October 2000, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in western Tottori reached 6 on the region's seismic intensity scale.

The initial earthquake that occurred on Tuesday was the strongest to hit Japan so far this year. In December, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Aomori Prefecture, causing a number of casualties. On January 1, 2024, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula, killing 698 people and causing widespread destruction.

More information:

Writers Takahara and Gabriel Ninevagging are contributors to this report.

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