Tokyo, October 5(HS): A powerful earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, late Saturday, though no tsunami threat has been issued, authorities confirmed.According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor occurred at 15:21 UTC on October 4 (00:21 local time, October 5) at a depth of around 46.8 kilometers.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) recorded similar data, listing the depth at 47 kilometers.The quake’s epicenter was located approximately 56 kilometers east of Tomioka, 59 kilometers east of Namie, 65 kilometers east-southeast of Minami-Sōma, and 112 kilometers east-southeast of Fukushima City. Though shaking was widely felt, reports indicate that the intensity remained mostly light to weak, with no immediate damage or casualties reported.

An estimated 4.37 million people experienced light tremors and nearly 29 million felt weak shaking. The USGS issued a Green alert for both fatalities and economic losses, indicating a low likelihood of significant impact. Japan’s infrastructure in the affected region is largely earthquake-resistant, although some vulnerable structures—such as heavy wood-frame and reinforced masonry buildings—exist.

Officials noted that while the earthquake did not cause major disruptions, previous seismic events in this area have occasionally triggered secondary hazards like landslides and fires.

Japan, located along the volatile Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activity, though its advanced early warning systems and stringent building codes often mitigate large-scale damage.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar