5.0-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Iwate Prefecture in Northeastern Japan

On Thursday, a preliminary 5.0-magnitude earthquake shook inland Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The quake struck at 11:20 a.m. local time in northern Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 10 kilometers. On the Japanese seismic intensity scale, it registered a level 5+ in some areas, causing strong shaking but no major casualties or property damage have been reported so far.

Local authorities are monitoring the situation and urging residents to remain vigilant for possible aftershocks in the coming days. No tsunami warning has been issued following the event.

Iwate Prefecture suffered a devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, which caused severe damage to the region. The latest earthquake serves as a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness.