Japan, Taiwan: Magnitude-5.2 earthquake strikes offshore of the southern Ryukyu Islands Jan. 25

Event

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake struck in the Philippine Sea, near Japan's southern Ryukyu Islands, around 1625 JST Jan. 25. The epicenter was about 106 km (65 miles) south-southwest of Ishigaki, Japan, and 212 km (131 miles) east-southeast of Hualien, Taiwan. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km (6 miles) and may have produced weak-to-light shaking in the southern Ryukyu Islands and eastern coast of Taiwan. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties resulting from the shaking; severe damage is unlikely. Aftershocks are possible. Officials did not issue a tsunami warning for the event.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation networks in the tremor zone to check for damage, triggering transport disruptions; service will likely resume quickly if authorities do not find damage. Landslides on area roadways cannot be ruled out and will exacerbate ground transport disruptions. Utility outages may occur, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where shaking occurred. Confirm travel plans due to the potential for temporary disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area.