Japan: Magnitude-5.2 offshore earthquake occurs off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture at 10:00 Jan. 25

Event

A magnitude-5.2 offshore earthquake occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture at around 10:00 Jan. 25. The epicenter was about 63.5 km (39.4 miles) east of Namie. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 39 km (24 miles), and weak to-light shaking was probably felt throughout Chubu, Tohoku, and Kanto regions. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake, and significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake’s epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.