A 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Japan on Thursday (Mar 14), as per the Japan Meteorological Agency. While the United States Geological Survey (USGS) website indicated that the quake measured 5.6 on the Richter scale. National Centre for Seismology reported the magnitude to be 6. The earthquake struck on Thursday (Mar 14) at 8:44 PM IST, with coordinates 37.20 degrees latitude, 141.00 longitude, and at a depth of 68 kilometres. Its epicentre was located 208 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, Japan.
“Earthquake of Magnitude:6.0, Occurred on 14-03-2024, 20:44:38 IST, Lat: 37.20 & Long: 141.00, Depth: 68 Km ,Location: 208km NE of Tokyo, Japan,” the National Centre for Seismology said in a statement on X. Local media outlets reported the powerful earthquake was off the coast of Fukushima prefecture, Japan. A warning for a potential tsunami has not yet declared, as per reports. As per reports, there were no reports of damage and casualties.
Japan is known for being earthquake-prone due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is an area with a high level of tectonic activity. The Pacific Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped area encircling the Pacific Ocean basin, including frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
It stretches approximately 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles) and encompasses several major tectonic plate boundaries, including the Pacific Plate, North American Plate, Juan de Fuca Plate, Cocos Plate, Nazca Plate, Philippine Sea Plate, and others.
This region is characterised by the subduction zones where tectonic plates collide, with one plate being forced beneath another into the Earth’s mantle. These interactions result in a variety of geological phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges.
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The Pacific Ring of Fire is one of the most seismically and volcanically active regions in the world, with approximately 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes and 75 percent of its volcanoes occurring along its boundaries.
Japan has experienced devastating earthquakes in its history, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011, which caused widespread destruction and loss of life. The country has implemented stringent building codes and disaster preparedness measures to mitigate the impact of future earthquakes.
(With inputs from agencies)
