Strong Quake Hits Southern Hokkaido Again

October 5, 2018

Tokyo- A strong earthquake hit southern Hokkaido on Friday morning, measuring up to lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The quake, whose estimated magnitude is 5.2 on the open-ended Richter scale, occurred at a depth of 31 kilometers in the Iburi region of the northernmost prefecture around 8:58 a.m. (11:58 p.m. Thursday GMT).

The intensity of lower 5 was registered in Atsuma, which had been hit hard by a devastating quake in the same region Sept. 6. The September temblor logged the intensity of 7 in Atsuma.

Friday's quake is believed to be an aftershock of the September temblor, the agency said.

Seismic activities in the region will continue for the time being, said Toshiyuki Matsumori, director of the agency's Earthquake and Tsunami Observation Division.

Matsumori also warned that buildings may collapse and landslides may happen as strong rains and winds are forecast to hit Hokkaido in the weekend. Jiji Press