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M5.6 Earthquake Rocks Yamanashi Prefecture; No Tsunami Warning Issued
2 min read
By Matthew H.
TOKYO — A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 jolted Yamanashi Prefecture and surrounding regions in eastern Japan at approximately 10:29 p.m. on Friday night, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
No tsunami warning has been issued.
The quake registered a Shindo (Japanese seismic intensity scale) of Lower 6 in the town of Fuji-Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture. Under this level of shaking, it is difficult to remain standing, and unreinforced concrete-block walls may collapse.
According to the JMA, the epicenter was located in the eastern Fuji Five Lakes region of Yamanashi Prefecture (35.6 degrees North, 139.0 degrees East) at a depth of roughly 20 kilometers.
Intensity Levels by Region:
Lower 6: Fuji-Kawaguchiko (Yamanashi)
Upper 5: Otsuki City (Yamanashi)
Lower 5: Parts of Kanagawa Prefecture (including Sagamihara Midori Ward, Yamakita Town), parts of Yamanashi Prefecture (including Kofu City, Fujiyoshida City), and Oyama Town in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Intensity 4 & 3: Widely felt across the Kanto and Chubu regions, including central Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, Nagano, and Ibaraki prefectures.
Local authorities are currently assessing potential damages or injuries in the hardest-hit areas near Mt. Fuji. Residents in the affected regions are urged to stay alert for potential aftershocks, falling objects, and localized landslides.
(This is a developing story and will be updated as official reports come in.)
