Japan is once again grappling with earthquake activity after a 6.7 magnitude tremor struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture friday morning. The quake, reported by the Japan Meteorological Agency, follows a 7.5 magnitude earthquake earlier this week that impacted the country’s northeast and prompted evacuation orders for over 100,000 residents. These events occur in a region frequently impacted by seismic activity, prompting renewed focus on earthquake preparedness and potential aftershocks.
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A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan on Friday morning, according to authorities. The tremor adds to a recent series of seismic events in the region, raising concerns about potential aftershocks and the possibility of larger earthquakes.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the earthquake occurred around 11:44 a.m. local time, with an epicenter approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) below the surface.
Following the quake, the JMA issued a tsunami advisory for the Pacific coastline of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi prefectures, and the central Pacific coast of Hokkaido island. Residents in these areas were urged to exercise caution.
This latest event comes just days after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake shook the country’s northeast coast on Monday, injuring over two dozen people and prompting evacuation orders for more than 100,000 residents.
While tsunami warnings were also issued after Monday’s quake, the resulting waves were not as large as initially feared.
The JMA had previously warned of a potential “large-scale earthquake of magnitude 8 or greater” occurring in Japan this week, though the probability was assessed at just 1%. This recent seismic activity will likely heighten scrutiny of Japan’s earthquake preparedness.
