TOKYO — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off Japan’s northeastern coast early Sunday, shaking parts of the Tohoku region, but no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The quake occurred at 7:25 a.m. local time off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 40 kilometers, the JMA said. Strong shaking was felt in Iwate, neighboring Aomori Prefecture and other nearby areas. The agency said the earthquake posed no tsunami risk and continued to monitor the situation.
Sunday’s earthquake came just days after a stronger offshore earthquake struck the same region, prompting authorities to caution residents about the possibility of additional seismic activity. Japan, which lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent earthquakes and maintains one of the world's most extensive earthquake monitoring and disaster preparedness systems.
The JMA said the maximum observed shaking reached lower 6 on Japan’s seven-level seismic intensity scale in parts of Aomori Prefecture. Under the Japanese system, shaking at that level can make it difficult for people to remain standing and may cause unsecured furniture to topple.
Authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or major structural damage following the earthquake. Emergency officials continued to assess infrastructure, transportation networks and public facilities, while local governments gathered information from affected municipalities.
The JMA urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks in the coming days. The agency has previously advised that earthquakes with similar levels of shaking could occur for about a week following the larger offshore earthquake earlier this week. Heavy rainfall associated with the current typhoon season has also raised concerns that additional shaking could increase the risk of landslides in some areas, officials said.
Japan regularly experiences powerful earthquakes because it sits at the convergence of several tectonic plates. The country accounts for a significant share of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater and has invested heavily in seismic monitoring, building standards and emergency response systems following major disasters, including the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
As of Sunday morning, the JMA had not issued a tsunami warning, and officials had not reported fatalities, injuries or significant damage linked to the earthquake. Authorities said they would continue monitoring seismic activity and update the public if conditions changed.
