A POWERFUL 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on Wednesday, rattling communities across a wide stretch of the country and disrupting high-speed rail services, although authorities reported no immediate deaths, serious injuries or tsunami risk.
The earthquake occurred off the coast of Iwate Prefecture on the main island of Honshu at a depth of 50 kilometres, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
AFP reported that the tremor was strong enough to be felt hundreds of kilometres away in the capital, Tokyo, reigniting concerns in a nation that remains acutely sensitive to seismic threats following some of the world's most devastating earthquakes.
Despite the strength of the quake, initial assessments indicated limited damage.
Some Shinkansen bullet train services were temporarily suspended as a precaution while infrastructure inspections were carried out, but authorities said no major structural damage had been identified in the immediate aftermath.
In neighbouring Aomori Prefecture, where the strongest shaking was recorded, residents described scenes of alarm but little destruction.
One resident in the town of Hashikami told AFP that the only damage inside her home was a fallen photo frame.
Television footage broadcast by public broadcaster NHK showed normal traffic conditions in Hachinohe City, with road networks and traffic signals continuing to operate without disruption.
“At this time, there is no information indicating any human casualties, but we will continue to monitor and assess the situation regarding damage,” top government spokesman Minoru Kihara said.
The JMA reported that the earthquake registered an upper six on Japan's seven-level Shindo intensity scale in parts of Aomori, a level capable of knocking people off their feet and causing unsecured furniture to topple.
According to the agency, shaking of such intensity can make it difficult for people to remain standing without support and may result in shattered windows and significant movement of household items.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed government ministries and agencies to coordinate closely with local authorities as inspections and assessments continued.
“I ask residents in areas that experienced strong shaking to remain alert for the possibility of additional earthquakes of similar intensity,” Takaichi said on X.
Authorities also moved swiftly to verify the safety of critical infrastructure.
NHK reported that radiation monitoring systems linked to the Tomari nuclear power plant on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido detected no abnormalities following the earthquake.
The latest tremor comes amid heightened public awareness of seismic risks after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Pacific waters off Iwate Prefecture on April 20, injuring at least 10 people and causing large buildings in Tokyo to sway.
That event prompted Japanese authorities to issue a special advisory warning of an elevated risk of earthquakes measuring magnitude 8.0 or higher. The advisory remained in place for a week before being lifted.
Japan sits atop four major tectonic plates along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and is among the world's most earthquake-prone nations.
The country experiences hundreds of earthquakes annually and accounts for approximately 18 per cent of global seismic activity.
Memories also remain vivid of the catastrophic 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck north-eastern Japan in 2011, killing or leaving missing around 18,500 people and triggering the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
While Wednesday's earthquake appears to have spared Japan from major devastation, authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant as aftershocks and further seismic activity remain possible in the coming days. - June 25, 2026
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