Earthquakes have struck some regions of Japan over recent days. This prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a warning for more aftershocks in the coming days and week, raising concerns of a potential major earthquake waiting to occur in an unspecified point in time.
The warning came after six people were injured when a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in the Richter scale hit the Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan on the afternoon of Sunday, June 19.
The tremor also caused property or infrastructural damage.
Meanwhile, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck the same region on the morning of Monday, June 20, but with no reported casualties.
The latest quake highlights a potential seismic activity pattern across the country that could reportedly continue and generate aftershocks or further earthquakes, not only next week but also in the next several months.
Japan's infrastructure consists of material and design known for its structural integrity against earthquakes.
The so-called earthquake proof buildings and other structures in the country has been a testament of previous catastrophic earthquakes in the East Asia country, where earthquakes are common.
Earthquake Warning
The JMA, along with a government panel consisting of earthquake experts, have issued a nationwide earthquake warning under an indefinite time period, spanning even until the end of June or the upcoming months.
Still, similar tremors are still possible in the coming hours and days as part of the warning's short-term earthquake forecast.
The panel's head Naoshi Hirata, a professor at University of Tokyo, stated there is no sign or any indication that the earthquakes will stop in the next several months, as cited by Kyodo News.
Moreover, the JMA cautions people in the affected region to remain vigilant as more earthquakes with an intensity of approximately 6.0 magnitude or lower is possible within a week's timeframe.
Two-Day Earthquake
The first earthquake occurred at 3:08 p.m. local time on Sunday, while the weaker tremor of the second quake transpired at 10:31 a.m. on Monday.
Both seismic eruptions were collectively felt in Noto town, Nanao , and Wajima cities, as per the local media outlet The Asahi Shimbun.
There reported injuries were people from Suzu and Noto, wherein one of them was child below 10 years of age.
Infrastructural damage was also reported at the Noto Satoyama Airport in Wajima after cracks were seen in a facility wall.
In addition, windows shattered at the Ishikawa Prefectural Iida High School in Suzu, forcing the a class suspension.
A Larger Context
The JMA mentioned that the earthquakes in two consecutive days could have caused the loosening of the ground, which can yield to the risk of landslides and house collapses.
The agency believed that latest quakes were part of seismic events that started in December 2020.
In reference to previous earthquakes, the panel mentioned that "temblors" became frequent in the said region since July 2021, which has been accelerating since then.
Japan is situated and is part of the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," a region in the Pacific Ocean where seismic activities are active due to the movement of tectonic plates.
This result in the occurrence of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
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