Strong earthquakes struck western Japan Tuesday morning. There is no tsunami threat. Officials are calling on residents to stay alert for further possible quakes.
.jpg "Strong earthquake strikes western Japan, Agency says the first had a magnitude of 6.4.") |
| Strong earthquake strikes western Japan, Agency says the first had a magnitude of 6.4. |
The Japan Meteorological Agency says the first had a magnitude of 6.4. It occurred in Tottori and Shimane prefectures at 10:18 a.m. The epicenter was in eastern Shimane at a depth of 11 kilometers.
In Sakaiminato City in Tottori, and Matsue City in Shimane, it registered an intensity of upper five on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7 in the hardest-hit areas.
Another earthquake hit around the same area 10 minutes later. It had a magnitude of 5.1. In Shimane's Yasugi City, it had an intensity of lower five.
There is damage in Tottori and neighboring prefectures.
Areas in Tottori and neighboring prefectures reported damage. Officials in Shimane Prefecture say several people there were injured.
Fire officials in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, say two people suffered minor injuries.
Following the shaking, residents in Tottori's Yonago City left their homes and went onto the streets. They checked in with their neighbors and tried to get the latest information.
Long tremors have been recorded in both prefectures. The agency calls this "long-period ground motion."
That can cause high-rise buildings to sway, particularly affecting those on higher floors.
Agency officials say it is the first time in 10 years that Tottori has been hit by an earthquake with an intensity of upper five or higher.
Japan Meteorological Agency: 'Stay alert'
The agency is calling on people in the affected areas to remain on alert for earthquakes with a maximum intensity of upper 5 for the next week or so, especially for the next two or three days. It also says that there is a possibility that more strong tremors could take place as there have been cases in the past where earthquakes occurred successively in this area. The agency also warns rain may increase the risks of falling rocks from slopes.
'Long-period ground motion' recorded
Long tremors have been recorded in both prefectures. The Japan Meteorological Agency calls this "long-period ground motion." That can cause high-rise buildings to sway, particularly affecting those on higher floors. There was Class 4 shaking in Sakaiminato City in Tottori. That is strong enough that it can be difficult to move on your feet.
Sanyo Shinkansen services have resumed
JR West says the Sanyo Shinkansen line between Okayama and Hiroshima stations has resumed operations at around 1 p.m.. It had been suspended due to a power outage following the quake.
Chugoku Electric Power Company: 'No abnormalities at Shimane nuclear power plant'
Chugoku Electric Power Company, which operates the Shimane nuclear power plant, says it continues to monitor the situation. It says, as of 11:00 a.m., no abnormalities had been detected at the plant following the earthquake.
Shimane Pref. hospital reports strong horizontal shaking during quake
A staff member at Yasugi Daiichi Hospital in Shimane Prefecture's Yasugi City says the facility experienced repeated strong horizontal shaking during the earthquake that registered an upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale.
They add that there have been no power outages at the hospital so far, and that they have been checking to see if any patients have been affected.
Tremors topple stone wall and gravestones in western Tottori Prefecture
In western Tottori Prefecture, officials in Houki Town are trying to confirm reports of a collapsed stone wall blocking a road in the Kamihosomi district.
Meanwhile, in Hiezu Village, officials have received word of toppled gravestones in the Tomiyoshi district. They say there have been no reports of injuries.
Tottori hotel guests uninjured despite strong jolt from quake
A hotel manager in Tottori Prefecture says none of the facility's guests have been injured and all are calmly waiting in their rooms following the powerful quakes on Tuesday morning.
Tremors of up to an intensity of upper 5 on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7 hit Sakaiminato City.
The manager of the 12-story hotel in the city says horizontal shaking continued for about 30 seconds in the initial jolt. He says subsequent tremors occurred while he was patrolling the hotel, and he heard some guests scream, but so far no one has been injured.
He says the guests are calm and have been asked to wait in their rooms.
He says he was on the ground floor when the first quake hit and it felt like a large tremor, so the shaking must have been more significant on the higher floors.
Expert: Quakes occurred in 'strain concentration zone'
An expert says the latest earthquakes in Japan occurred in an active seismic region where strain is concentrated.
Professor Nishimura Takuya of Kyoto University's Disaster Prevention Research Institute says the tremors appear to have struck close to the focus of a powerful quake that hit western Tottori Prefecture in 2000.
He says the magnitude of Tuesday's initial earthquake was around 6, but it is believed that its shallow focus caused the strong shaking.
He says the continued occurrence of quakes with shallow hypocenters resulted in alerts being issued consecutively.
He added that he wants the public to be on the alert for about a week or so for quakes with similar intensities.
