Japan: Magnitude-5.9 offshore earthquake occurs in the Philippine Sea around 07:46 JST Sept. 14

Event

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake occurred off the eastern coast of Japan in the Philippine Sea at around 07:46 JST Sept. 14. The epicenter was about 230 km (143 miles) southeast of Shingu, Japan. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 376 km (233 miles). Light shaking may have occurred in coastal areas of eastern Japan. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties due to the earthquake. 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 they do not find any damage. Utility outages are possible.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Out of an abundance of caution, 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.