6.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Northern Japan

A wooded area in northern Japan

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that a powerful earthquake occurred early Saturday off the coast of northern Japan, the same region that was devastated by a far more deadly tremor, tsunami, and nuclear disaster three years earlier.

The earthquake was centered off Honshu Island about 176 miles (284 kilometers) east-northeast of Tokyo and was about 7 miles (11 kilometers) deep.  The U.S. Geological Survey initially estimated the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.8, but later revised it to 6.5.

Although no immediate damage was reported due to the quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami advisories for several prefectures on the country’s northeastern coast and advises residents of these areas to stay out of the water and leave the coastal area.

The earthquake hit close to the city of Fukushima in northern Honshu, where the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is located.  The area had previously been affected by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the northeastern coast in 2011, causing a massive tsunami and 16,000 fatalities.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)