Late Wednesday, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook southern Japan, as reported by the Japan Meteorological Agency, which did not issue a tsunami warning following the quake.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Bungo Channel, a strait that divides the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, according to the agency’s statements.
The regions of Ehime and Kochi prefectures experienced strong shaking, reaching a level 6 intensity on Japan’s 1-7 seismic intensity scale, the agency reported.
Local media sources noted that the earthquake led to some water pipes bursting, though no significant damage has been reported so far.
Officials from Shikoku Electric Power have confirmed that the Ikata nuclear plant in Ehime, currently operating one reactor, showed no signs of irregularities, according to Japan’s government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi.
Hayashi also cautioned about the potential for subsequent quakes, which could reach a lower six on the Japanese seismic scale.
Japan, known for its seismic activity, is one of the most earthquake-prone areas globally, with approximately one-fifth of the world’s magnitude 6 or greater earthquakes occurring in the region.
The country faced its most severe earthquake on record on March 11, 2011, when a magnitude 9 quake and subsequent massive tsunami hit the northeast coast, leading to the most serious nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
