7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northern Honshu, Japan; Aftershocks Possible

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Aomori Prefecture in northern Honshu, Japan, at approximately 7:30 a.m. today.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the epicenter was located off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, with an estimated focal depth of 44 km.
The JMA initially reported the magnitude as 6.9 but later revised it to 7.2.
The quake registered a seismic intensity of 6-strong in areas including Sanpachi and Kamikita in Aomori Prefecture.
Unlike "magnitude," which measures the absolute energy of an earthquake, the JMA's seismic intensity scale is a relative measure of the shaking felt by people and the movement of objects at a specific location.
A seismic intensity of 6-strong indicates shaking severe enough to make it difficult for people to stand, causing most unfixed furniture to move and some items to topple over.
NHK reported that the strong tremors caused damage, including broken windows at a nursing home and merchandise falling from shelves at supermarkets.
Kyodo News reported that a total of nine people sustained minor injuries in Aomori Prefecture.
In Iwate Prefecture, a woman in her 90s suffered a broken arm after falling in her home, and a woman in her 60s sustained serious injuries after falling in her yard and hitting her head.
A total of 114 elementary, middle, and high schools in Aomori and Iwate prefectures were closed.
Building tremors were also felt in Tokyo, located more than 700 km away from Aomori Prefecture.
The JMA stated that while there might be slight fluctuations in sea levels along the coast, there is no risk of a tsunami.
Due to the earthquake, operations on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori were suspended in both directions this morning but resumed across the entire line around 2:00 p.m.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) stated that no abnormalities were detected at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, where radioactive leaks occurred during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, or at the Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant in Aomori Prefecture.
The Japanese government has established an earthquake response office at the Crisis Management Center of the Prime Minister's Office.
Northern Honshu, where Aomori and Iwate prefectures are located, and southern Hokkaido have experienced frequent seismic activity recently, including a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred in April.
The JMA warned that earthquakes of similar magnitude could continue in the vicinity of the epicenter over the next week, adding that there is a possibility of even stronger tremors.
However, the agency did not issue a "follow-up earthquake advisory," which is typically released when the probability of a larger earthquake is deemed higher than usual.
Nevertheless, the JMA noted that the risk of building collapses and landslides has increased in areas that experienced severe shaking.
(Photo: Provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.