On Saturday afternoon, a magnitude 5 earthquake shook the mountainous region of Nagano Prefecture in central Japan, according to the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).

The seismic event occurred near Omachi city in northern Nagano at approximately 1:20 pm local time (4:20 am GMT). The Japan Meteorological Agency is expected to provide further details during an upcoming press briefing.

Measured at an upper-5 on Japan’s 1 to 7 seismic intensity scale, the quake was powerful enough to make standing or walking without support quite difficult.

At this time, reports of structural damage or injuries have not been confirmed.

Japan’s Earthquake Landscape

Japan is situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the globe’s most earthquake-prone nations. It experiences roughly 20% of all earthquakes worldwide with magnitudes of 6.0 or higher, underscoring the country’s ongoing vulnerability to seismic activity.

In recent years, Japan has invested heavily in earthquake-resistant infrastructure and early warning systems, which have proven crucial in minimizing casualties during such events.

Reuters