By Smartencyclopedia Newsroom

A strong earthquake hit Japan’s west central coast early on Friday, with reports of one death and collapsed buildings. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck at 2:42 pm Japan time, approximately 50 kilometers off the coast of Anamizu in Ishikawa province, at a depth of 8.7 kilometers.

However, Japan’s Meteorological Agency recorded the quake at a 6.3 magnitude with a depth of 10 kilometers, stating that the epicenter was on land near Noto in Ishikawa province.

Japanese media, citing local police, reported one man died in the city of Suzu near the epicenter, as he fell off a ladder when the quake struck.

Additionally, three houses reportedly collapsed, with at least one person trapped in the wreckage.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno confirmed that there was no tsunami warning issued and no abnormalities reported at the Shika Nuclear Power Plant near the epicenter, nor at other nuclear power plants.

The Meteorological Agency reported several smaller earthquakes after the initial quake and suggested that other, larger quakes, approaching magnitude 6, could occur within the coming week.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, with the country experiencing a massive quake in 2011, which caused a devastating tsunami and nuclear plant meltdown.

Source: With Agencies