A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan on Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported, just days after a 7.5-level tremor in the same region injured at least 50 people.
The quake, initially estimated at magnitude 6.5, occurred 130 kilometres (81 miles) off Kuji city in Iwate prefecture on Honshu, Japan’s main island. Authorities warned of potential tsunami waves up to one metre (three feet) along the northern Pacific coastline.
Broadcaster NHK noted that the shaking was less severe than Monday’s 7.5 tremor, which caused damage to roads, windows, and household items, and triggered 70-centimetre tsunami waves.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that no abnormalities were reported at regional nuclear facilities following the quake.
Earlier this week, the JMA had issued a rare special advisory warning that another quake of similar or greater magnitude could occur within a week in the Sanriku region and northern Hokkaido.
Japan, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences around 1,500 seismic events annually, most of which are minor. The country is still haunted by the 2011 undersea 9.0-magnitude quake that caused a devastating tsunami, killing or leaving around 18,500 people missing.
Authorities continue to monitor the region for aftershocks and potential tsunami activity.
