A 6.4 magnitude tremor rattled Japan’s Shimane Prefecture on Tuesday, causing injuries, property damage, and widespread transport halts, capped by two aftershocks. JMA confirmed the 10:18 AM local quake originated 10 km underground at 35.3°N, 133.2°E, peaking at intensity 5+ in Shimane and Tottori.
Subsequent 5.1 and 5.4 quakes hit the same spot at 10:28 and 10:37 AM. Matsue saw four hospitalizations from quake-induced mishaps and structural harm to residences. Tottori’s Sakaiminato reported roadway splits, with Hiroshima’s Fukuyama adding two injuries to the tally.
Power failures idled the Sanyo Shinkansen between Okayama and Hiroshima; services may resume by 1 PM, per JR West, though delays linger. This follows a 5.7 magnitude event off Iwate on December 31—epicenter 40.1°N, 142.9°E, 30 km deep—registering intensity 4 in Morioka without tsunami risks.
Japan’s seismic vigilance, bolstered by tech and culture, curbed disaster scale. Yet, these tremors reinforce the archipelago’s precarious position on volatile fault lines. From retrofitted buildings to public drills, preparedness defines the response, as watch continues for aftershocks.