On Wednesday night, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the west coast of Shikoku island, Japan, measuring a weak 6 on the country’s seismic intensity scale. The quake, occurring at 11:14 p.m., posed no threat of a tsunami and initially resulted in no reports of injuries or damages.
The earthquake’s epicenter was in the Bungo Channel, a straight separating the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, and it struck at a depth of 50 kilometers. Shaking was felt across a wide area of western Japan, with parts of Kochi and Ehime prefectures experiencing a weak 6 on the intensity scale.
Despite the quake’s strength, no abnormalities were detected at Shikoku Electric Power’s Ikata Nuclear Plant in Ehime Prefecture. The lack of damage or injuries was a relief, considering the potential impact of such a seismic event.
The earthquake also affected areas beyond Japan’s shores, with a magnitude 6.3 quake occurring in the Philippine Sea near the coast of Ehime. This earthquake, with a very shallow depth of 26 kilometers, was felt more strongly near the epicenter. However, no significant damage or impact was expected, and no specific alerts were issued.
The quake’s effects were felt across a wide region, with monitoring agencies reporting varying magnitudes. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported it as a magnitude 6.3 quake near Uwajima, Ehime, while the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) listed it at magnitude 6.2. Japan’s National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) reported it at magnitude 6.5.
The quake’s impact varied across different areas, with moderate shaking reported in Uwajima, Ōzu, and Saiki, and lighter shaking in Tsurusaki, Matsuyama, Beppu, and Iwakuni. Despite the potential for light to moderate damage, the overall impact was relatively limited.
In conclusion, while the earthquake off Japan’s Shikoku island and its aftershocks caused concern, the region managed to avoid significant damage or injuries. The event serves as a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness and effective emergency response measures in earthquake-prone regions.
