After Turkey, it is Japan’s turn to deal with an earthquake. The island of Hokkaido in the north of the country was hit by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake. The preliminary report shows property damage and injuries.
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido on Saturday night, shaking coastal cities but without triggering a tsunami warning, the USGS seismological institute said.
Japanese media have not reported any damage or injuries so far. The earthquake struck at 10:27 p.m. (1:27 p.m. GMT) at a depth of about 43 kilometers, the USGS said.
An expert speaking on public broadcaster NHK advised residents to watch for possible earthquakes for about a week.
Earthquakes are common in Japan, which lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Basin.
The country enforces strict building codes to ensure buildings can withstand strong earthquakes and regularly conducts emergency drills to prepare for a major earthquake.