Hokkaido Quake Strikes Sunday Evening
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido on Sunday evening, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The quake hit at around 10:45 pm local time, with its epicenter located off the coast of Hokkaido at a depth of 40 kilometers. Authorities reported no casualties or damage from this quake, and no tsunami warning was issued.
The epicenter was near the city of Urakawa on Hokkaido's southern coast, according to reports. The tremor recorded a maximum intensity of 4 on Japan's seven-level seismic scale, which is considered moderate. The epicenter was approximately 125 kilometers south of Obihiro and 36 kilometers south-southeast of Urakawa.
Earlier Morning Quake in Eastern Japan
This was the second major earthquake to hit Japan on Sunday. Earlier that morning, at around 2 am local time, a separate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck eastern Japan. Its epicenter was in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, at a depth of 68 kilometers. The earthquake recorded a lower 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in parts of Ibaraki and central Tokyo, and the tremor was felt across a large part of northeastern and central Japan.
The morning earthquake caused injuries across the region. Authorities reported more than 40 people injured in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. Local fire departments detailed injuries in several areas: a young man and a woman in her 70s were hurt in Saitama, nine people were injured in Kanagawa, and four in Chiba. In Tokyo's Koto Ward, a water pipe ruptured; metropolitan authorities were checking whether the damage was linked to the earthquake.
As noted by Kyodo News, a lower 5 quake can cause most people to become frightened and hold on to something stable, with objects falling from shelves during such shaking.
Transport Disruptions and Government Response
The morning earthquake disrupted transport services. JR East and other railway operators delayed some trains, and several early morning services were affected with reduced speeds as a precaution. Some express services run by Tobu Railway remained suspended following the earthquake.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned about the possibility of similar earthquakes in the coming days, based on the activity observed. In response, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that the government had set up an emergency response task force at the Prime Minister's Office. The task force is assessing the impact of the earthquake and coordinating the government's response.
While the Hokkaido quake caused no reported casualties or damage, the morning earthquake's effects were more significant, with injuries and infrastructure impacts. Officials continue to monitor the situation.