A 6.5 magnitude quake struck near Yamada on Thursday around midnight, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

A tremor hit the area at 14:18 UTC (00:18 local time). The earthquake’s epicenter was about 123 km east of Yamada and occurred at a depth of 16 km. The magnitude was originally reported as 2.9 but later upgraded to 6.5.

Did you feel it?

Those who noticed the quake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form. So far, the agency has collected 8 online responses from people indicating they felt light shaking. According to the USGS DYFI report, residents in cities like Sendai and Morioka reported experiencing the tremor.

Impact and estimated losses

The USGS categorized this as a Green Alert, which means there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and fires that might have contributed to losses.

Structure information summary
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are heavy wood frame and reinforced/confined masonry construction.

Past week’s quake

Prior to this quake, another magnitude 4.6 quake was registered in the region, also close to Yamada.

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey