5.2-Magnitude Quake Strikes Off Coast of Japan’s Hokkaido Region, No Tsunami Warning Issued

TOKYO, Sept. 29 (PNA/Xinhua) — An earthquake with a preliminary 5.2 magnitude struck off the north-east coast of Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture early Thursday morning, Japan’s weather agency said, although did not issue a tsunami warning or advisory as result of the shallow temblor.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake occurred at 1:33 a.m. local time and struck at a latitude of 43.9 degrees north and longitude of 148.3 degree east, off the south-east coast of Etofuru Island, which is claimed by Japan yet administered by Russia.

The JMA said the quake occurred at a very shallow depth and registered 1 on Japan’s seismic scale that peaks at 7.

The tremor was felt in parts of Japan’s northernmost prefecture, particularly in the Nemuro Subprefecture of Hokkaido, in the port city of the same name, the weather agency here said.

The weather agency has not issued a tsunami warning or advisory as a result of this off-shore quake and no damage has been reported as a result of the jolt, according to the latest local media reports.(PNA/Xinhua) JMC/EBP