Strong earthquake shakes northern Japan; no tsunami warning

At least two minor injuries were reported after a magnitude-6.7 natural disaster on Thursday, January 14, 2016, in northern Japan, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.

The powerful temblor, rated at a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 by the United States Geological Survey, occurred at 12:25 p.m., local time, Thursday (9:25 p.m. PST Wednesday). There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.

No tsunami warning was issued and NHK national television said that while there might be some changes in sea level, no tsunami damage was expected.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the epicenter was located off the coast of Urakawa-Oki at a depth of 50 kilometers.

A moderate quake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale today hit northwest China’s Xinjiang region.

The massive quake that hit in March 2011 created a tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people and sent three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Haru Matsutakeya is a resident of Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital, which lies 170 kilometres from the epicentre of the quake.

She told journalists: “It was pretty strong”.