International Desk, 4th April: Japan’s East Coast of Honshu on April 4 experienced a seismic event, with an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale, marking the second significant jolt of the day for the nation. This followed an earlier quake measuring 6.1 in magnitude that struck in the morning hours.
According to the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake occurred at 08:46:33 IST, with a magnitude of 6.1. Its epicenter was located near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan, at a depth of 55 km.
Prior to Japan’s seismic activity, Taiwan was rocked by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale. Striking at approximately 7:58 am local time, it was the strongest earthquake to hit Taiwan in 25 years. The epicenter was situated about 18 km south-southwest of Hualien. The earthquake triggered a tsunami alert in Japan’s Yonaguni Island.
The impact of the quake was immediately felt in Taiwan’s Hualien city, resulting in toppled buildings and suspended train services across the country. Discrepancies in magnitude readings were noted, with the US Geological Survey (USGS) recording it as 7.4, while Taiwan’s agency reported it as 7.2 on the Richter scale.
Japan, known for its high seismic activity, maintains stringent building standards to ensure structures can withstand powerful earthquakes. Despite experiencing approximately 1,500 earthquakes annually, the majority are of mild intensity.