Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Strikes Eastern Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido, Japan – A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Hokkaido early Saturday morning, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The quake occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. local time, with an epicenter southeast of the Nemuro Peninsula and a depth of around 25 miles.

Officials reported that the quake registered a lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, which ranges from 0 to 7. Fortunately, there is no risk of a tsunami, as confirmed by the agency.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency promptly issued an emergency alert anticipating strong shaking in the affected regions. In response, the government set up a liaison office at the prime minister’s office to coordinate emergency actions.

Hokkaido, known for its stunning natural landscapes and agricultural industry, covers roughly 32,000 square miles and is home to about 5 million residents. Its capital, Sapporo, is renowned for its annual snow festival and was the host of the Winter Olympics in 1972.

The region sits near the volatile Pacific and North American tectonic plates, leading to frequent seismic activity. The subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate in the Kuril Trench makes it one of the world’s most active earthquake zones.

The most catastrophic earthquake in modern Japanese history occurred on March 11, 2011, when a magnitude 9.0 quake struck off the coast of Tohoku, causing extensive damage and a nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The effects of that earthquake continue to influence disaster policies across Japan.