A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture in northeast Japan on Friday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a tsunami advisory for coastal communities.
The quake occurred at 11:44 a.m. local time (02:44 GMT) at a depth of 20 km, according to the JMA. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also confirmed the magnitude at 6.7.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no immediate abnormalities at nuclear facilities in the affected region.
National broadcaster NHK noted that the tremors were weaker compared to the magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck the same region on Monday. That earlier quake caused significant damage, tearing apart roads, shattering windows, and generating tsunami waves of up to 70 centimetres. At least 50 people were injured in the incident.
Following Monday’s quake, the JMA issued an uncommon advisory alerting residents across areas from Hokkaido to Chiba to remain vigilant for the possibility of another strong earthquake within a week.
Japan’s northeast remains deeply affected by the memory of the catastrophic 2011 magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake, which triggered a massive tsunami that left about 18,500 people dead or missing.
In 2024, the JMA issued its first special advisory for the southern half of Japan’s Pacific coastline, warning of a potential “megaquake” along the Nankai Trough. Government estimates suggest that a major quake in that zone, followed by a tsunami, could result in up to 298,000 deaths and $2 trillion in damages.
Japan, located on the volatile Pacific “Ring of Fire,” rests atop four major tectonic plates, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.
