Japan: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs east of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, at around 18:08 Aug. 28

Event

A magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurred east of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, at around 18:08 Aug. 28. The epicenter was about 171 km (106 miles) east of Iwaki. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 23 km (14 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout most of Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, as well as eastern parts of Chiba, Fukushima, and Ibaraki 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, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days. The event has not prompted 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 where shaking occurs.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.