A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck northern Japan on Wednesday, coinciding with early Thursday local time due to the time difference, but caused no significant damage. This event occurred on the same day that destructive earthquakes were recorded in Venezuela.
The epicenter of the tremor in Japan was located off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 44 kilometers, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The agency initially reported a lower magnitude and depth of 6.9 and 50 kilometers, respectively, but later updated the information and ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.
Meanwhile, in Venezuela, two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 6 shook a significant portion of the country on Wednesday, including the city of Caracas. Several buildings were damaged, causing panic as people fled into the streets, and debris such as plaster and tree branches fell. Acting President Delsi Rodriguez confirmed there were fatalities but did not specify the number.
“There is currently no information on human casualties, but we will continue to monitor and assess the situation,” said government spokesman Minoru Kihara.
The tremor occurred in the morning and was felt in several locations in northeastern Japan, where there were no reports of visible infrastructure damage or significant service disruptions. In cities like Hachinohe, footage broadcast by public television NHK showed normal traffic flow and functioning traffic lights.
In other areas, such as Sendai and Morioka, the earthquake was felt for several minutes without material consequences, according to local media reports. A woman in Hashikami, where the tremor was felt more intensely, reported that the only incident in her home was a framed picture falling.
The earthquake was also barely noticeable in Tokyo and other regions of the country, with no large-scale emergency warnings activated.
Safety measures and no damage at nuclear power plants
As a precaution, East Japan Railway Co. temporarily suspended some bullet train and local line services to conduct safety checks on the tracks. Authorities also confirmed that no anomalies were detected at nuclear power plants, including the Fukushima Daiichi facilities.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told journalists in Tokyo that her government’s emergency team “puts people’s lives first,” assessing information and preparing to provide assistance if necessary. She also urged residents of the affected regions to be cautious about possible aftershocks.
Geological activity in the region
The earthquake occurred in a region that has experienced significant seismic activity in recent months, consistent with the country’s typical geological behavior. Japan is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active zones on the planet. Due to the convergence of several tectonic plates, the country experiences hundreds of tremors of varying magnitudes each year.
Source: Clarín