Strong magnitude-6.2 earthquake strikes Japan's Chugoku region


TOKYO, ‌Jan 6 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary ‌magnitude of 6.2 hit the western Chugoku region ‌of Japan on Tuesday, followed by a series of sizeable aftershocks, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The epicentre of the ‍first earthquake was in eastern Shimane ‍prefecture, the agency ‌said, adding that there was no danger of a ‍tsunami.

Chugoku ​Electric Power, which runs the Shimane Nuclear Power Station about 32 km (20 miles) ⁠away, said operations were continuing as usual ‌at its No.2 unit. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said there ⁠were no ‍irregularities following the quake.

The plant's No.2 unit restarted in December 2024 for the first time since all ‍of Japan's nuclear power plants were ‌shut down in the aftermath of the March 2011 disasters in Fukushima.

The earthquake had a seismic intensity of upper-5 on Japan's 1-7 scale, strong enough to make movement difficult without support.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically ‌active areas. Japan accounts for about one-fifth of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

West Japan Railway said ​it had suspended Shinkansen bullet-train operations between Shin-Osaka and Hakata following the quake.

(Reporting by Satoshi SugiyamaEditing by Chang-Ran Kim)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Ukrainian capital Kyiv under missile attack, officials say
Impeachment trial of Philippine VP Sara Duterte to open in divided Senate
Canada to announce submarine contract winner on Monday, Globe and Mail says
Haaland scores twice to send Brazil packing
Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last
Del Toro claims first Tour de France stage win as Pogacar gifts teammate victory
1st LD Writethru: China, Finland agree to strengthen cooperation, jointly address challenges
Norway stuns Brazil 2-1 to reach World Cup quarters as Haaland scores twice for his seventh goal
Flash: Norway beats Brazil to reach World Cup quarterfinals
Kuwait launches 100-mln-USD emergency fund to repair war-damaged infrastructure

Others Also Read