Yamada, Japan – A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan early Sunday, November 9, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at 08:54 UTC (5:54 p.m. local time) about 121 kilometers east of Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Data from the USGS National Earthquake Information Center show the event was part of a cluster of recent offshore quakes detected in the Pacific east of Japan’s Tohoku region. The shallow depth and offshore location produced moderate shaking on land, with light tremors reported from Miyagi to Aomori Prefectures.
The agency’s PAGER system rated the potential for damage as low, issuing a “green” alert for both fatalities and economic losses. No tsunami warning has been issued, and Japanese meteorological authorities have not reported any major infrastructure damage or injuries.
Experts note that the area lies along the Japan Trench subduction zone, the same seismic boundary responsible for past large events, including the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Seismologists are closely monitoring the ongoing earthquake swarm in this region to assess potential stress changes along the fault.
Residents along the coast were reminded to remain alert for aftershocks in the coming days.
