A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido early on Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The tremor occurred at 5:23am local time (2:23am in Bangladesh) and was also recorded by international monitoring agencies. The JMA stated that the epicentre was located approximately 200 kilometres east of Sapporo, a major city in southern Hokkaido. The earthquake originated at a depth of 83 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface.
Authorities confirmed that there have been no immediate reports of deaths, injuries, or structural damage linked to the event. The JMA also stated that there is no tsunami risk associated with this earthquake.
However, the agency warned that the strong shaking could increase the risk of secondary hazards such as rockfalls and landslides in mountainous areas across Hokkaido.
The JMA further noted that the region had already experienced seismic activity earlier the same morning. A magnitude 5.0 earthquake was recorded in southern Hokkaido approximately one hour before the 6.2 magnitude tremor.
Officials also referred to heightened seismic activity in the broader region in recent days. On the previous Monday, a stronger earthquake measuring magnitude 7.7 struck the Iwat district of Hokkaido. That event was felt across a wide area, including the capital Tokyo, hundreds of miles from the epicentre. Six people were reported injured in that earlier earthquake.
Japan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity caused by tectonic plate boundaries. Due to this geological setting, earthquakes occur frequently across the country. With a population of around 125 million, Japan experiences on average approximately 1,500 earthquakes annually. This accounts for roughly 18 per cent of all earthquakes recorded worldwide each year.
Summary of Recent Seismic Events in Hokkaido
| Date/Timing |
Magnitude |
Location |
Depth |
Reported Impact |
| Monday 05:23am (local time) |
6.2 |
~200 km east of Sapporo, southern Hokkaido |
83 km |
No casualties or damage reported; tsunami risk ruled out |
| Earlier same morning |
5.0 |
Southern Hokkaido |
Not specified |
No reports of damage |
| Previous Monday |
7.7 |
Iwat district, Hokkaido |
Not specified |
6 injured; tremors felt in Tokyo |
Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the region, particularly following the sequence of earthquakes recorded over the past week.
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