6.3 earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 occurred Wednesday evening in southwest Japan. The epicenter is located between the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, about 18 kilometers west of Uwajima.
Japan is one of the countries with the most seismic activity, with around 1,500 tremors every year. The most powerful earthquake ever recorded in this archipelago of 125 million inhabitants was the magnitude 9 earthquake in March 2011 off its northeast coast, which triggered a tidal wave that killed around 18,500 people or disappeared. Despite stricter construction standards, many structures remain unharmed by the tremors. The vast majority of them are benign, and even the strongest generally cause little damage. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on was working normally. No tsunami warnings or incidents at power plants have been reported, the JMA said. It urged the population to be vigilant in the face of aftershocks and to stay away from dangerous areas. The JMA has declared there is no risk of a tsunami.