Japan: Magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurs in the North Pacific Ocean, east of Fukushima Prefecture 11:24 JST Aug. 22

Event

A magnitude-5.3 offshore earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean off northern Honshu at around 11:24 JST Aug. 22. The epicenter was about 102 km (63 miles) east-northeast of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 54 km (34 miles), and weak-to-light shaking may have been felt in Fukushima, northern Ibaraki, southern Iwate, Miyagi, and eastern Tochigi and Yamagata prefectures. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days. Authorities have not issued any tsunami advisories.

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 no damage is found. Utility outages are possible.

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, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.