6.4-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Western Japan, Several Injured

Tokyo- Several people were injured after a strong earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck western Japan on Tuesday, according to local media reports.

The tremor hit eastern Shimane Prefecture at 10:18 a.m. local time, with a focal depth of approximately 10 kilometres. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the quake registered an upper 5 on Japan’s seven-point seismic intensity scale in parts of Shimane and neighbouring Tottori prefectures, making it one of the strongest recent tremors in the region.

The epicentre was located at latitude 35.3 degrees north and longitude 133.2 degrees east. The main quake was followed by two aftershocks of magnitude 5.1 and 5.4 at around 10:28 a.m. and 10:37 a.m. local time, respectively, the JMA added.

In Matsue City of Shimane Prefecture, four people were taken to hospital after suffering injuries from falls and other earthquake-related incidents. Local authorities also reported damage to the roofs of several houses, according to public broadcaster NHK.

In neighbouring Tottori Prefecture, police in Sakaiminato City received reports of cracks developing on roads. Further south, in Fukuyama City of Hiroshima Prefecture, two people were injured as a result of the tremor, the report said.

The JMA later revised the quake’s magnitude upward from an initial estimate of 6.2 and noted that long-period ground motions of up to the maximum level 4 were recorded in western Tottori Prefecture.

Long-period ground motion consists of slow, prolonged seismic waves generated by large earthquakes and can cause significant swaying in high-rise buildings, particularly affecting occupants on upper floors.

With inputs from IANS