Japan: Magnitude-5.5 offshore earthquake occurs south-southeast of Kushiro, Hokkaido, at around 16:01 Sept. 26

A magnitude-5.5 earthquake occurred off the coast of Hokkaido Region at around 16:01 Sept. 26. The epicenter was about 57 km (35 miles) south-southeast of Kushiro. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 58 km (36 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout parts of Hokkaido Region. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties; however, significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely 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, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.