An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 hit western Japan on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The epicenter of the earthquake was the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture, the agency said, adding that a tsunami warning had not been issued.
Chugoku Electric Power operates the Shimane Nuclear Power Station, about 32 km away. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no irregularities at the plant. A spokesperson said the utility was checking on any impact on the plant's No. 2 unit, which has been operating since December 2024 after being shut down following the March 2011 disasters in Fukushima.
Why is Japan prone to earthquakes?
Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. The earthquake had a seismic intensity of upper-5 on Japan's 1–7 scale, strong enough to make movement difficult without support. West Japan Railway said it had suspended Shinkansen bullet-train operations between Shin-Osaka and Hakata following the quake.
Recent earthquake in Japan
Earlier in December last year, a late-night 7.5 magnitude earthquake caused injuries, light damage and a tsunami in Pacific coastal communities.
At least 34 people were injured, one seriously, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. Most of them were hit by falling objects, public broadcaster NHK reported.
The quake occurred just north of the coastal region where the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011 killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
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“You need to prepare, assuming that a disaster like that could happen again,” JMA official Satoshi Harada said.
Smaller aftershocks were continuing Tuesday. The US Geological Survey reported a magnitude 6.6 and later a 5.1 quake in the hours after the initial temblor.
(With inputs from agencies)
This is a breaking news. More details will be added.