Japan: Two Aftershocks One Measuring 5.3 Shake Kumamoto

Fact checked
Japan: Two Aftershocks Shake Kumamoto

Two aftershocks, one measuring a magnitude of 5.3 have hit Kumamoto prefecture in Japan, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS)

The aftershocks followed just days after two deadly earthquakes struck the region, killing at least 42 and injuring more than 1,000 others.

RT reports: A tsunami warning has not been issued, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

The aftershocks measured 3.9 and 3.4 on the Japanese scale, according to the country’s Meteorological Agency. Each had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The US Geological Survey (USGS) put the first aftershock at a magnitude of 5.3, with the epicenter located 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) east of Kikuchi, Japan. 

It comes just days after two deadly earthquakes rocked the area, forcing the evacuation of 110,000 people.

Forty-two people died in the two quakes, and over 1,000 were injured. Around 190 of the injured are in serious condition, according to the Japanese government. 

The quakes triggered massive landslides, which cut off roads and destroyed bridges, local media reported.

Japan forces survey damage

Around 30,000 rescue workers are still searching for survivors, and handing out food to those unable to return to their homes.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, as it is part of the seismically active “Ring of Fire,” which sweeps from the South Pacific islands to Indonesia, Japan, across to Alaska, and down the west coast of the Americas. 

At the other end of the ring, Ecuador’s biggest earthquake in decades killed more than 230 people, caused devastation in coastal towns and left unknown numbers trapped in ruins, this weekend.

A state of emergency was declared on Sunday, as 10,000 troops and 3,500 police were being deployed to the affected areas as rescue operations got under way.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.