Powerful 5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Northern Japan

The authorities initially issued a tsunami alert, but several minutes after the quake the warning was revoked.

A powerful 5.5-magnitude tremor has hit northern Japan, with the epicentre of the earthquake located east of the Aomori Prefecture, at a depth of 50 kilometres, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. According to reports, the quake was felt by people in the Aomori, Hokkaido, and Iwate prefectures.

So far, no information has been confirmed about any casualties or damage caused by the earthquake.

5⃣5⃣ Earthquake Mb 5.5, 12/12 07:19 (UTC), depth: 50 Km, NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN.

Parameters: EMSC -> https://t.co/rilOJBIk2x#earthquakehttps://t.co/70fH0DZ4Wo pic.twitter.com/WktaeX4YY9

— EQGR (@eqgr) December 12, 2020

Japan often suffers from earthquakes, as it is located in the Ring of Fire - a major area in the Pacific Ocean with extremely high seismic activity.