An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 struck Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Monday, the second strong quake to jolt the region in as many days, the weather agency said, while warning the next week may see more of a similar intensity.
No tsunami warning was issued following Monday's quake that occurred at 10:31 a.m. and registered upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Suzu, at the tip of the Noto Peninsula in the Sea of Japan coast prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The focus was at a depth of around 14 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, according to local authorities.
The temblor also registered 4 in the town of Noto and 3 in some parts of the neighboring prefectures of Niigata and Toyama. No abnormalities were reported at nuclear power facilities in the area, including Hokuriku Electric Power Co.'s Shika plant in Ishikawa, the central government said.
At around 3 p.m. Sunday, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 5.4 struck the region, leaving at least six people injured in Ishikawa. It registered lower 6 on the Japanese intensity scale in Suzu.
At an intensity of lower 6, many people find it difficult to remain standing. The jolts are strong enough to move and topple over unsecured furniture, according to the agency.
The agency said Monday that people in the affected area should be cautious of more earthquakes with an intensity of around lower 6 within a week. The two consecutive days of quakes may have caused the ground to loosen, increasing the risk of landslides and house collapses, it said.
