A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the western coast of Japan early Tuesday, authorities said, with no tsunami warning issued.
The quake was recorded at 10:18 am (0118 GMT) off the coast of Shimane prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. There were no immediate reports of damage. The US Geological Survey measured the tremor at a slightly lower magnitude of 5.8.
The earthquake registered an upper five on Japan’s Shindo intensity scale in the western city of Yasugi—a level at which heavy furniture can topple and motorists may find it difficult to maintain control.
The meteorological agency said the same region experienced a series of aftershocks shortly afterward, measuring 4.5, 5.1, 3.8 and 5.4. No tsunami warnings were issued.
Japan sits atop four major tectonic plates along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. The nation of about 125 million people records roughly 1,500 earthquakes each year, most of them mild, though their impact varies depending on depth and location.
