Japan: Magnitude-5.7 offshore earthquake strikes near Hokkaido at 12:23 JST May 16

Event

A magnitude-5.7 offshore earthquake occurred near southern Hokkaido, at 12:23 JST May 16. The epicenter was about 281 km (174 miles) east-southeast of Sapporo. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 17 km (11 miles), and strong-to-moderate shaking likely occurred near the epicenter. Moderate-to-light shaking may have taken place through Hokkaido and eastern parts of Aomori Prefecture. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if officials do not find any damage. Utility outages cannot be ruled out, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel due to potential disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.