Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Strikes off Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan: Felt in Tokyo, No Tsunami Threat
TOKYO — A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, at 1:52 p.m. local time on November 9, with an epicentre at 36.2 degrees north latitude and 142.2 degrees east longitude and a depth of about 10 kilometres, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Tremors were felt in Tokyo, and the agency said there was no concern of a tsunami from the quake.
The agency said shaking of intensity 3 on Japan's seismic scale was recorded in parts of Miyagi Prefecture, the Nakadori and Hamadori districts of Fukushima Prefecture, northern Ibaraki Prefecture and southern Tochigi Prefecture, and tremors were also felt in areas including Tokyo's Arakawa and Adachi wards. There were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured the same event at magnitude 5.7, at 04:52 UTC, which is 8:52 p.m. Pacific time on November 8, at a depth of 24.2 kilometres, with an epicentre about 106 kilometres east-northeast of Hasaki in Ibaraki Prefecture, under event code us7000tx1f. The USGS issued a green PAGER alert, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The two agencies' magnitude and depth figures differ because of different measurement methods, and both are presented here.
The offshore area has seen a series of quakes in recent days: a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the same waters on November 6. Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet, and both the agency and the USGS continue to monitor further activity.
(Source: Japan Meteorological Agency)
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：日本茨城县大洗町大洗海岸与海中的神矶鸟居（资料图）。Σ64 摄，CC BY 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Oarai coast and the Kamiiso torii gate in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan (file photo). Photo by Σ64, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
