Tokyo, Japan – Two offshore earthquakes struck northeastern Japan in quick succession Friday, rattling coastal communities but with no immediate reports of major damage.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first tremor, a magnitude 5.5 quake, hit at 4:29 p.m. UTC about 63 kilometers east of Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture at a depth of 44 kilometers. Roughly 20 minutes later, a magnitude 5.0 quake was recorded 61 kilometers east of Tomioka in Fukushima Prefecture at a similar depth.
Residents in Sendai, Fukushima City, and surrounding coastal towns reported light shaking, though the Japan Meteorological Agency did not issue a tsunami warning. Local railway operators briefly inspected tracks, and utility companies monitored for disruptions, though service remained largely unaffected.
Japan, one of the world’s most seismically active countries, frequently experiences offshore quakes due to the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” Authorities continue to urge residents to review emergency kits and be cautious of possible aftershocks over the weekend.
Seismic monitoring agencies said additional quakes remain possible, though no immediate alerts have been expanded.
