A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Hiroo in southeastern Hokkaido early Monday, following closely behind a similar tremor near Kushiro just a day earlier. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake’s epicentre was about 64 kilometres south-southeast of Hiroo, at a depth of 27 kilometres beneath the Pacific Ocean.
Though the tremor raised initial concerns, the USGS issued a “green alert,” indicating a low likelihood of casualties or significant damage. Japanese authorities confirmed that no tsunami warning was necessary, and early reports showed no signs of landslides or infrastructure failures in the affected areas.
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Monday’s earthquake comes just hours after a 6.1-magnitude quake hit Kushiro, suggesting a potential seismic link between the two events. Experts suspect Sunday night’s tremor may have served as a foreshock to the more recent one near Hiroo. Both events were shallow, making them more noticeable to residents, though the impact was described as weak to light.
Nearly two million people reportedly felt the shaking, and while there were no major disruptions, authorities have urged continued vigilance. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned of potential aftershocks and recommended that residents review their emergency plans.
