A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck off eastern Hokkaido, Japan early Saturday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported. Officials confirmed no tsunami threat.
The quake occurred southeast of the Nemuro Peninsula at a depth of about 25 miles around 1:40 a.m. local time. It registered a lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Hokkaido. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency issued an emergency alert at the time, predicting strong shaking. The government also set up a liaison office at the prime minister’s office to coordinate response efforts.
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is seismically active due to its location near the boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. Earthquakes occur frequently, particularly off the eastern and southern coasts, where the Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate in the Kuril Trench, one of the most active seismic zones globally.
Hokkaido covers roughly 32,000 square miles and is home to about 5 million people, making it far less densely populated than Japan’s other main islands. Its capital, Sapporo, is famous for its annual snow festival and hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics. The island is accessible by air in about 1.5 hours or via the Seikan Tunnel, which connects Hokkaido to Honshu.
For context, the most powerful earthquake in northern Japan occurred on March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 off the coast of the Tohoku region. That quake caused a massive tsunami, killed more than 18,000 people, and triggered the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, reshaping Japan’s approach to disaster preparedness, tsunami defenses, and nuclear safety.
While Saturday’s 5.9 quake was far less severe, it serves as a reminder that Hokkaido remains one of Japan’s most earthquake-prone regions, underscoring the importance of vigilance and preparedness.
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