World

Series of earthquakes strikes Japan

May 16, 2021
The biggest earthquake was located in the Pacific Ocean off the northern island of Hokkaido. — Courtesy file photo
The biggest earthquake was located in the Pacific Ocean off the northern island of Hokkaido. — Courtesy file photo

TOKYO — Japan on Sunday experienced a series of earthquakes on Sunday, including three in Chiba Prefecture that borders Tokyo.

The biggest earthquake was located in the Pacific Ocean off the northern island of Hokkaido. It registered 6.1 on the Richter scale and shook buildings on the eastern side of the island. An aftershock with a 4.3 intensity was later recorded in the same area.

Fukushima Prefecture experienced a 4.6 earthquake, which was also centered in the ocean. Fukushima houses the Daiichi nuclear power plant that exploded 10 years ago. No further damage was reported and there was no danger of a tsunami.

The largest of the three earthquakes that struck Chiba registered 3.9 on the Richter scale and 3 on the Japanese intensity scale. The epicenter was approximately 50 km east of Tokyo.

On Friday, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit the East Coast of Honshu, the National Centre for Seismology said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

Earlier this month, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake was registered off the northeastern coast of Japan, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had said.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of 60 km (more than 37 miles) in the Pacific Ocean, not far from the prefecture of Miyagi. The tremors were felt in the northern and eastern parts of the country, including Tokyo, JMA said. — Agencies


May 16, 2021
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