7.1 magnitude strong earthquake strikes Japan

A day after tremors jolted Tajikistan and parts of North India, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.1 on the Richter Scale struck the northern coast of Japan on Saturday night. Apart from Tokyo, the quake was felt in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures in Japan's Tohoku region.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency issued a statement saying, "A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake, which measured a strong 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale - the second-highest level - jolted Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures in the Tohoku region late Saturday night."

"The quake, which also felt in Tokyo, where it registered a 4 on the Japanese scale, struck around 11:08 p.m., according to the Meteorological Agency. A tsunami warning was



not issued," the statement added.

Police in mainland Japan's Hokkaido said they had received no reports of damage or injuries. Officials believe this was due to the depth of the quake and the distance between the epicentre and the coast.

The earthquake centred 60 km below the ocean's surface and east of Etorofu island, a disputed landmass claimed by Japan but currently held by Russia.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is monitoring the situation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.

In fact, residents of coastal areas have been advised to move to higher ground as a precautionary measure against aftershocks. However, nearly 9.5 lakh homes in Japan are facing a blackout, reported Reuters.