Japan: 6.3-magnitude earthquake strikes east coast Oct. 6

Event

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale struck off the eastern coast of Japan on Friday, October 6, approximately 300 km (180 mi) from Iwaki, near Fukushima. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage and no tsunami warning was issued.

Context

Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent earthquakes every year. Rigid building codes and strict enforcement mean even strong tremors often do little damage. However, a massive undersea quake in March 2011 near Fukushima sent a tsunami barreling into Japan's northeastern coast, leaving more than 18,000 people dead or missing and sending three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. In April 2016, two strong earthquakes followed by more than 1700 aftershocks hit the southern prefecture of Kumamoto, leaving at least 50 dead and causing widespread damage.

Advice

Individuals in affected regions are advised to be prepared for possible aftershocks.

Generally speaking, after a powerful earthquake, check for damages and take note of your surroundings. If indoors, shut off water, gas, and electricity lines and evacuate the building.