Magnitude 6.2 earthquake shakes Western Japan

A strong earthquake struck western Japan on Tuesday morning, according to the country’s meteorological agency. The quake measured 6.2 in magnitude and occurred at about 10:18 a.m. local time. Officials said it was relatively shallow but posed no risk of a tsunami.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the tremor at a slightly lower magnitude of 5.7. The epicenter was in Shimane Prefecture in northwestern Japan, with shaking felt in the cities of Matsue and Yasugi, as well as nearby parts of Tottori Prefecture.

Authorities reported no immediate injuries or serious damage. As a safety measure, sections of the Shinkansen bullet train network were briefly halted. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority also confirmed that no problems were found at the Shimane nuclear power plant.

The earthquake registered an upper level five on Japan’s Shindo intensity scale in Yasugi, meaning the shaking was strong enough to knock over heavy furniture and make driving difficult. Several smaller aftershocks were reported in the region following the main quake.

Earthquakes are common in Japan since it lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for intense seismic and volcanic activity. The country experiences about 1,500 earthquakes each year—most of them small—but it is responsible for nearly 18% of the world’s earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or higher.

Japan continues to live with the lasting impact of the powerful 9.0-magnitude earthquake in 2011, which set off a catastrophic tsunami, caused nearly 20,000 fatalities, and caused the nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima power plant.