M5.3 quake hits areas north of Tokyo

Monday 24th March, 01:55 PM JST

TOKYO —

An earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 hit areas north of Tokyo on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the 12:40 p.m. quake that hit a broad region covering the Tohoku and Kanto regions. No tsunami warning was issued.

The quake measured 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Motegi, Tochigi Prefecture, the agency said. Intensity 3 was registered in some part of Fukushima, Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. The focus of the quake was around 40 kilometers underground off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture.

12 Comments

romulus3 at 01:59 PM JST - 24th March

I felt it. Some Brazilian doomsday speculator and an Indian scientist have predicted disaster for Tokyo in the next 2 days. As much as I think it rubbish, I still hate hearing it. Hopefully todays quake was a watered down version of their doomsday predictions.
Zorro at 02:07 PM JST - 24th March

I am glad for the many little quakes. Its the long wait that gets me worried. I cant help but feel it makes for a pressure build up to a bad one.
Hughgarse at 02:18 PM JST - 24th March

was saying that it`s been a while since I felt a good one!
romulus3 at 02:18 PM JST - 24th March

"I cant help but feel it makes for a pressure build up to a bad one"

I share the same logic but unfortunately....

"Some large earthquakes are preceded by foreshocks. Knowledge of past earthquake patterns allows scientists to estimate the odds that an earthquake striking today is a foreshock and will soon be followed by a larger mainshock in the same area. These odds depend on the earthquake's magnitude and the seismic history of the fault on which it occurred. When a moderate earthquake hits California, scientists immediately estimate the probability that a damaging mainshock will follow. If the threat is significant, a warning is issued"

source http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/QuakeForecasts/
roomtemperature at 02:51 PM JST - 24th March

This same Brazilian speculator also predicted a major quake for Kawasaki in February. And what happend....?
romulus3 at 02:57 PM JST - 24th March

roomtemp,

I guess nothing happened in Kawasaki. Not even fun happened there. No one even made love in february. That is how wrong Brazilian soothsayers are. However that could have been a 5.3 foreshock with a larger main quake due. No thats scary
roomtemperature at 05:52 PM JST - 24th March

Romulus, I hope you're wrong, man.
romulus3 at 05:53 PM JST - 24th March

I really like it when you click on your name and see the things you have commented on in an easy list. Then I can click on one of the posts and be directed immediately to the conversation. I think that is an outstanding feature.
yongfook at 07:16 PM JST - 24th March

didn't feel this one at all.
romulus3 at 07:54 PM JST - 24th March

roomtemp,

Not me, I hope the Brazilian and Indian are wrong. Nether the less we all needed todays wake up call. Most people here probably do not have canned food, a torch, a radio etc available. Tomorrow is payday and romulus is going shopping.
Altria at 10:10 AM JST - 25th March

Ah, I thought it might have wiped out Saitama. No such luck, unfortunately.
ColdQQPi at 01:03 AM JST - 30th March

Indians and Brazilians don't have the power - I do! I'm the man with the magic eye into the future and I can tell you without a doubt that there will be earthquakes in Tokyo in the future. Also in Kyushu, and Sapporo. I see Earthquakes in Sakhalin and Alaska, and in conclusion I forecast earthquakes for California. Fear me or you will pay the consequences! Send me all your money or there will be more earthquakes...