A powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Japan on Tuesday morning, leaving several people injured and triggering two significant aftershocks. The quake hit the Shimane Prefecture at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers, rattling nerves across the region.
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the epicenter at 35.3 degrees north latitude and 133.2 degrees east longitude, with tremors peaking at intensity 5+ on Japan’s seismic scale in Shimane and neighboring Tottori prefectures. Local time clocked the main shock at 10:18 AM, followed swiftly by aftershocks of 5.1 and 5.4 magnitudes at 10:28 AM and 10:37 AM respectively.
In Matsue city, Shimane’s capital, four individuals were hospitalized due to falls and other injuries sustained during the shaking. Several homes suffered damage, according to reports from local broadcaster NHK. Nearby, in Tottori’s Sakaiminato city, police noted cracks appearing on roads, signaling potential infrastructure concerns.
The tremors extended to Hiroshima Prefecture’s Fukuyama city south of the epicenter, where two residents were injured. Power disruptions compounded the chaos, halting bullet train services on the Sanyo Shinkansen line between Okayama and Hiroshima stations. JR West anticipates resuming operations by early afternoon, though delays persist elsewhere on the network.
This event underscores Japan’s vulnerability to seismic activity, nestled on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Just days ago on December 31, a 5.7 magnitude quake shook Iwate Prefecture in the north, measuring intensity 4 in Morioka city but causing no major harm or tsunami alerts. Authorities continue monitoring for further activity, urging residents to remain vigilant amid the archipelago’s restless geology.