6.2 Magnitude Quake Strikes Southern Hokkaido

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southern Hokkaido early Monday, shaking Japan's northernmost main island and prompting warnings of potential aftershocks and landslides, though no tsunami alert was issued and initial assessments indicated minimal damage.

The quake hit at 5:23 a.m. local time, about 200 kilometers east of Sapporo, at a depth of 83 kilometers, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which revised its preliminary magnitude estimate upward from 6.1. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a similar magnitude of 6.1, with the epicenter located roughly 18 kilometers west of the town of Sarabetsu, near the municipality of Nakasatsunai. The deep focus of the tremor meant the shaking was felt across a wide area but was less intense at the surface compared to shallower earthquakes of the same strength. Residents in southern Hokkaido described feeling strong vibrations, but no immediate reports of injuries or significant structural damage emerged.

In areas where the shaking was most intense, officials cautioned about heightened risks of falling rocks and landslides. "The danger of falling rocks and landslides has increased," a Japan Meteorological Agency official told...