Japan hit by 6.0-magnitude earthquake off Hiroo coast following Kushiro tremor

An measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit off the coast of Hiroo, in the early hours of Monday morning local time. This follows a 6.1-magnitude quake that shook the city of Kushiro just a day earlier.

The U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazards Programme pinpointed the epicentre of the most recent quake to be roughly 40 miles south-southeast of the Japanese city, located in the Pacific Ocean.

According to the USGS, the quake had a depth of nearly 17 miles and was categorised as a minor quake by most standards, with a low likelihood of causing landslides or significant water events such as tsunamis.

The USGS website stated: "Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage," It further noted that regions that may have experienced the tremors, including Hiroo, are well-prepared to deal with earthquakes.

The USGS website added: "Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and unreinforced brick with mud construction," reports

Reports suggest that the tremors felt in Japan were weak to light, but could have been detected by nearly two million people. It's likely that some of the tremors were also felt in Kushiro.

The city is still reeling from a shake-up, as another quake struck only yesterday, with Saturday night's jolt believed to be an aftershock of that initial tremor. Luckily, the Kushiro quake resulted in no reported casualties.

Significant sea level shifts were anticipated post-quake, though tsunami alerts were not deemed necessary. Mercifully, there was neither harm nor injury from the quake.

Though aftershocks were on the cards, locals have been advised to stay vigilant to avoid being taken by surprise by potential subsequent shakes.

Some denizens, admittedly on edge, relayed their concern about the duration of the quake's rattles. One anxious resident shared on X, "The shaking of the earthquake just now felt stronger than its seismic intensity, and most importantly, lasted longer. There are aftershocks and I feel kind of uneasy. All we can do is hope that the energy is released in small amounts so that nothing serious happens."