6.8 earthquake jolts central Japan

Published time: November 22, 2014 13:33
Edited time: November 22, 2014 18:24

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A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has hit central Japan at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, Japan’s Meteorological Agency reports. No tsunami warning has been issued.
The quake struck at 22:08 local time (13:08 GMT) and was centered in the Nagano Prefecture on the main island of Honshu, about 16 kilometers northeast of the city of Omachi.
Several people have reported injuries to Nagano fire department, Japan’s Kyodo news agency stated. One woman has been reported killed and 15 have been wounded. Some of the injured are under a collapsed building. Three homes have collapsed and four people are still unaccounted for, according to the agency.
An official from the village of Ogawa, near the epicenter of the quake, told Japan’s NHK broadcaster that the residents felt a long shake and saw documents falling off the shelves.
Twenty-one residents, including toddlers, have been rescued from debris in a village in Hakuba Prefecture, where several buildings were destroyed, NHK reported.

Magnitude 6.8 Intensity 6- earthquake 22:08 Nov-22 JST at Nagano-ken Hokubu (36.7N/137.9E) Depth 10 km http://t.co/rgy1dqBnov #earthquake
— Japan Earthquake (@jEarthquake) November 22, 2014

According to the USGS, the quake was registered at a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale.

長野市やばい。家ぐっちゃぐちゃ。震度６弱の脅威。 pic.twitter.com/ouJ3SzQZEw :HygNtoLuv63
— ニュースな話題つぶやき＠移転作業 (@new_2_twit) November 22, 2014

The tremor was felt as far away as the capital, Tokyo, which is about 170 kilometers northwest of the epicenter.
The JMA said there was no direct threat of a tsunami after the quake.
The cities of Hotaka and Suzaka, also in Nagano Prefecture, are also in proximity of the tremors – 33 and 36 kilometers away, respectively.
A landslide that blocked the roads was reported near a ski resort in the affected area, NHK said, adding that about 200 homes were without power.
Kyodo news agency said that several people reported injuries and that a firefighter saw a collapsed building in the village of Hakuba in Nagano Prefecture.
NHK also reported that several people might have been buried under collapsed buildings in Nagano Prefecture.

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