A series of strong earthquakes struck the western Japanese prefectures of Shimane and Tottori on Tuesday, initiating with a powerful tremor recorded at a magnitude of 6.4. The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that while no tsunami was generated, caution is advised as further seismic activity is anticipated in the coming week.
As of Tuesday evening, local authorities reported four injuries in Shimane and one in Tottori, with additional injuries recorded in neighboring Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures. The agency has warned residents about the potential for continued seismic events of similar magnitude, citing historical patterns of such occurrences in the region.
The primary quake occurred at 10:18 a.m. at a depth of 11 kilometers, initially reported as a magnitude 6.2 before being revised. It reached an intensity of upper 5 on Japan’s seismic scale, followed closely by additional quakes measuring 5.1 and 5.4 at intervals of mere minutes.
Damage reports have emerged, highlighting structural impacts such as the collapse of ceiling panels within the Yonago city hall in Tottori. Additionally, residents in the town of Nanbu experienced issues with muddy tap water, affecting thousands of individuals in the area.
This event marks the strongest seismic activity in the region since a lower 6 magnitude quake hit Tottori Prefecture in October 2016, and an upper 5 quake occurred in Shimane in April 2018. Government officials, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, have mobilized a liaison office to coordinate the response efforts. Takaichi assured the public that the government would do everything possible to handle the situation.
Importantly, no irregularities have been reported at the Shimane nuclear power facility in Matsue, as confirmed by the operator, Chugoku Electric Power Co. However, bullet train services on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line experienced disruptions due to a power outage and other factors, although they were restored by approximately 1 p.m. Furthermore, certain sections of the Yonago Expressway and the Sanin Expressway were temporarily closed before reopening later in the day.
Japan’s resilience in the face of natural disasters remains strong, with authorities and emergency services prepared to support affected communities as they navigate the aftermath of these significant earthquakes.