Hokkaido: A magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck off Japan’s northern prefecture of Hokkaido on Sunday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The tremor occurred offshore near Urakawa, with international earthquake monitoring agencies also recording a magnitude of 6.0.
Strong tremor recorded offshore
The earthquake was recorded at about 10:44 pm local time, with the epicentre located south of Hokkaido. The United States Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a depth of around 43 km.
The offshore location meant the shaking was felt across parts of the region. Preliminary estimates indicated that millions of people may have experienced light or weak shaking.
Authorities monitor the situation
There were no immediate reports in the available information of major damage or casualties linked to the earthquake. Authorities and monitoring agencies continued to assess the situation following the tremor.
Japan is frequently affected by earthquakes because it lies along several active tectonic boundaries. Hokkaido and surrounding waters have experienced a number of significant earthquakes over the years, making preparedness and rapid monitoring particularly important.
No tsunami statement was issued in the initial earthquake monitoring information available for the event.
Residents in affected areas were expected to remain alert for possible aftershocks as authorities continued evaluating the earthquake and its impact.