An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 hit the western Chugoku region of Japan on Tuesday, followed by a series of sizeable aftershocks, the Japan Meteorological Agency(JMA) said.
The epicentre of the first earthquake was in eastern Shimane prefecture, the agency said, adding that there was no danger of a tsunami.
Chugoku Electric Power 9504.T, which runs the Shimane Nuclear Power Station about 32 km (20 miles) away, said operations were continuing as usual at its No.2 unit. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no irregularities following the quake.
The plant’s No.2 unit restarted in December 2024 for the first time since all of Japan’s nuclear power plants were shut down in the aftermath of the March 2011 disasters in Fukushima.
The earthquake had a seismic intensity of upper-5 on Japan’s 1-7 scale, strong enough to make movement difficult without support.
Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world’s most seismically active areas. Japan accounts for about one-fifth of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.
West Japan Railway 9021.T said it had suspended Shinkansen bullet-train operations between Shin-Osaka and Hakata following the quake.
More Quakes Possible
The Japan Times reported that the epicentre of the initial quake, which occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, was recorded in eastern Shimane Prefecture. But shaking was felt across wide areas of western Japan, triggering early warning alerts on television broadcasts and mobile phones.
The report further added that the JMA observed Level 4 long-period ground motion — the strongest designation — in western Tottori. This marked the first time a Level 4 alert was observed in the prefecture, and it was the first Level 4 issued since the powerful January 2024 quake on the Noto Peninsula. People in tall buildings or on large bridges are advised to be vigilant when facing long-period ground motion, which causes a prolonged back-and-forth shaking, the agency said.
The JMA also warned that quakes measuring 5 or higher could occur over the next week, and especially during the next two or three days.
“Seismic activity is still active in the area. There is a possibility that a quake larger than a strong 5 will occur, so please remain vigilant,” said Ayataka Ebita, a JMA official in charge of the earthquake and tsunami division.
(with inputs from Reuters)
