Strong 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Eastern Japan, No Tsunami Warning Issued

Despite the intense shaking, no tsunami warning was issued, offering relief amidst concerns about potential damage and casualties.

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 26 May 2023 11:38 am

Representative image of earthquake

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 jolted Tokyo and other areas of eastern Japan on Friday evening. The epicenter of the quake was off the east coast of the Chiba Peninsula, with a depth of 44.2 kilometers, as reported by the US Geological Survey. While strong shaking was felt in Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures, experts suggested that the chances of severe damage or casualties were low.

Notably, the Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant in Ibaraki reported no issues following the earthquake, as confirmed by Kyodo News service. This comes just weeks after a previous earthquake hit central Japan in early May, resulting in one fatality and over 20 injuries.

Given that Japan is highly susceptible to seismic activity, According to the reports by ZAWYA, earthquakes are a common occurrence in the region. The country experiences approximately one-fifth of the world's earthquakes measuring magnitude 6 or higher. The catastrophic events of March 11, 2011, when a massive magnitude 9 earthquake struck the northeast coast, followed by a devastating tsunami and a nuclear plant meltdown, still remain fresh in memory as the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.

Fortunately, in this recent earthquake, no tsunami warning was issued, and there have been no immediate reports of significant damage or destruction.

(With AP Inputs)