Published June 25th, 2026 - 04:58 GMT
Highlights
The earthquake occurred one day after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. A 7.2-magnitude foreshock was followed just 39 seconds later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude mainshock on Wednesday, causing extensive damage in Caracas and coastal regions.
ALBAWABA- A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan’s Iwate Prefecture on Thursday morning, shaking large areas of northern Japan and causing minor injuries and localized damage, while rescue efforts continued in Venezuela following deadly earthquakes that have killed more than 160 people.The earthquake struck at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time off the eastern coast of Iwate in northern Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the quake's magnitude from an initial estimate of 6.9 to 7.2 and said the epicenter was located about 44 kilometers beneath the Pacific Ocean.Strong shaking was recorded across parts of Aomori and Iwate prefectures, reaching upper 6 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in some areas of Aomori and upper 5 in parts of Iwate. Tremors were felt as far south as Tokyo.Authorities did not issue a tsunami warning, citing the earthquake’s depth and characteristics. Initial reports indicated between four and ten people sustained minor injuries, while some buildings suffered limited damage, including cracked walls and fallen objects. Rail services, including bullet trains, experienced temporary disruptions, and several schools briefly suspended operations.No major casualties or widespread destruction have been reported, reflecting Japan’s extensive earthquake preparedness measures and stringent building standards.The earthquake occurred one day after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. A 7.2-magnitude foreshock was followed just 39 seconds later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude mainshock on Wednesday, causing extensive damage in Caracas and coastal regions.Venezuelan authorities said at least 164 people were killed and more than 970 injured, while thousands remain unaccounted for. Numerous buildings collapsed, making the disaster one of the country's most destructive seismic events in more than a century.Seismologists have emphasized that the earthquakes in Japan and Venezuela are unrelated despite occurring within days of each other. Japan sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are primarily caused by tectonic plate subduction, while the Venezuelan quakes were linked to strike-slip fault activity in a separate geological setting.
