Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A strong before dawn earthquake struck Aomori and surrounding prefectures, northeast Japan, on Wednesday registering up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. 

The epicenter of the quake was off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, which neighbors Aomori, at a depth of around 50 kilometers, but there was no danger of tsunami being caused by the quake, according to the agency.

The trembler, with a magnitude of 6.0, occurred around 2:46 a.m. local time. Seismic intensity 5 upper is observed in Hashikami Town, Aomori Prefecture, and seismic intensity 5 lower is observed in Hachinohe City and Nambu Town, Aomori Prefecture, and Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. 

As many places in that region have observed rainfall exceeding 50 mm and 100 mm in the last 24 hours, the agency warned that the ground may be loose, and asked people to be careful about falling rocks and landslides due to the shaking of the earthquake. Near slopes, even a small amount of rain may cause rockfalls and landslides, the agency said advising residents to try to stay away from dangerous places as much as possible.

Local media quoted residents saying they were awaken up by the a long shaking that lasted for about 10 seconds. Authorities, however, said no large scale sever damage is expected.