TOKYO: A powerful earthquake of intensity of upper 6 jolted Ishikawa Prefecture around 2:42 pm, according to official reports from Japan’s Metrological Agency. Consequently, there may be some sea level fluctuations along the coast of Japan, but no danger of a tsunami.

The agency reported the epicenter was in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, with a depth of 10 km and a magnitude of 6.3. (37.5 degrees north latitude, 137.3 degrees east longitude),

Other areas also experienced upper levels – 6 in Suzu City, Ishikawa with 2 reports of collapsed buildings which the Suzu Fire Department is now confirming. An intensity of 5 was observed in Noto Town, and a seismic intensity of lower 5 in Wajima City, a region often hit by earthquakes.

A seismic intensity of 4 was observed in other prefectures including, Niigata, Toyama and Fukui Prefecture.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, said it is currently checking for any abnormalities in the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station in Kashiwazaki City and Kariwa Village, Niigata Prefecture.

In response to this earthquake, at 2:43 pm, the government set up a Prime Minister’s Office Countermeasures Office in the Crisis Management Center where officials from relevant ministries and agencies as members to collect information and confirm damage.