6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan, shaking ground off east coast of Honshu
Tokyo: A powerful earthquake struck Japan late Saturday night. The quake measured 6.0 on the Richter scale. According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the epicenter was at a depth of 50 kilometers. In a post on X, the NCS stated, "Earthquake magnitude: M 6.0, Time: 04/10/2025 20:51:09 IST, Latitude: 37.45 N, Longitude: 141.52 E, Depth: 50 Km, Location: near the east coast of Honshu, Japan."
Japan is located in a highly seismic zone. It lies on the volcanic region of the Pacific Ocean known as the "Ring of Fire." Japan has the world's most extensive seismic network, allowing it to record many earthquakes.
The archipelago experiences frequent low-intensity tremors and occasional volcanic activity. Destructive earthquakes, often triggering tsunamis, occur in this region several times per century. Some recent major earthquakes include the 2024 Noto earthquake, the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake, and the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.
The Shindo Scale for Measuring Seismic Intensity in Japan
The Shindo Scale, which measures seismic intensity rather than magnitude, is commonly used to measure earthquake intensity in Japan. It is similar to the Modified Mercalli intensity scale used in the United States or the Liedu scale in China. This means that this scale measures the intensity of an earthquake at a given location, rather than the Richter scale, which measures the energy released at the earthquake's epicenter.
Unlike other seismic intensity scales, which typically have twelve intensity levels, the Shindo (literally, degree of shaking) scale used by the Japan Meteorological Agency has ten levels. It ranges from Shindo zero (very mild shaking) to Shindo seven (severe earthquake). Earthquakes rated Shindo five and six have intermediate levels, such as "weak" or "strong," depending on the degree of damage they cause. Earthquakes rated Shindo four and lower are considered mild to weak, while those rated five and higher can cause significant damage to furniture, wall tiles, wooden houses, reinforced concrete buildings, roads, gas, and water pipes.
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