Magnitude 4.8 earthquake strikes northeastern Chiba near Tokyo; no tsunami risk
In short
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck northeastern Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, at about 4:13 a.m. on October 8 at a depth of 50 km, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency as cited by Korean outlets. Shaking of intensity 4 on Japan's scale was recorded in Asahi, Chiba. NHK reported no tsunami risk and no damage reports as of 4:30 a.m.
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A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck northeastern Chiba Prefecture, near the Japanese capital Tokyo, at about 4:13 a.m. local time on October 8, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Yonhap cited Kyodo News for the report, while Dong-A Ilbo cited NHK and other broadcasters. Both said the focus was 50 km underground. [ 1 , 3 ]
Shaking of intensity 4 on the Japanese scale was observed in the city of Asahi in Chiba Prefecture. According to police and fire authorities cited by Dong-A Ilbo, side-to-side shaking lasted about 10 seconds there, but there was no damage such as objects falling from shelves or power outages. [ 1 , 3 ]
Dong-A Ilbo reported that intensity 3 shaking was recorded in Narita, Sosa, Katori, Sanmu, Tako and Shibayama in Chiba Prefecture and in Itako and Inashiki in Ibaraki Prefecture. Yonhap also reported that shaking was measured in Ibaraki. Intensity 2 and 1 shaking was felt over a wide area including Fukushima Prefecture, the Kanto region and Shizuoka Prefecture, according to Dong-A Ilbo. [ 1 , 3 ]
There is no tsunami risk, and no damage reports linked to the quake had been received as of 4:30 a.m., NHK said, according to Dong-A Ilbo. The Japan Meteorological Agency placed the epicentre at 35.7 degrees north latitude and 140.7 degrees east longitude, Dong-A Ilbo reported. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The quake hit an area that Yonhap described as part of the Tokyo commuter belt, with shaking felt across Chiba, Ibaraki and wider parts of eastern Japan. Reports so far indicate no tsunami threat and no damage, so the immediate consequences appear limited.
Key facts
- A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo early on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The quake occurred at about 4:13 a.m. in northeastern Chiba, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The focus was 50 km underground. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Shaking of intensity 4 was observed in Asahi, Chiba Prefecture. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The epicentre was at 35.7 degrees north, 140.7 degrees east. [ 3 ]
- There is no tsunami concern. [ 2 , 3 ]
- No damage reports had been received as of 4:30 a.m., NHK reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether any damage or injuries occurred after 4:30 a.m. The only damage update cited is NHK's report of no damage as of 4:30 a.m.
- Duration of shaking of about 10 seconds in Asahi. Reported by one outlet, citing police and fire authorities.