Japan: 5.2 magnitude earthquake hits west coast’s Ishikawa, ‘no tsunami threat’
- The quake struck a few minutes after 3pm local time on Sunday
- The government was gathering information but said initial reports indicated there was no major damage and nuclear facilities were operating normally
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 struck Japan’s western coastal prefecture of Ishikawa on Sunday, the Meteorological Agency said, adding there were no indications that it would trigger a tsunami.
The quake occurred at 3:08pm at a depth of 10km (6 miles). It measured a lower 6 on Japan’s 7-point intensity scale in parts of the Noto Peninsula, meaning it was strong enough to wedge doors shut, topple furniture and dislodge wall tiles, according to the agency.
01:20
Deadly series of earthquakes rock China’s southwestern province of Sichuan
Top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said he received a report that nuclear facilities were operating normally. The Shika nuclear power plant, operated by Hokuriku Electric Power Co., is about 45km southwest of the quake’s epicentre.
There have been no power outages due to the quake in the area covered by Hokuriku Electric, Kansai Electric Power Co., Tohoku Electric Power Co. and Electric Power Development Co., the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. There have been no reports of damage at oil refineries, it added.
High-speed trains that link Tokyo to Kanazawa in the Hokuriku region operated normally following the quake, national broadcaster NHK reported, citing the operator East Japan Railway Co.
