The earthquake occurred at 5:23 a.m. local time on April 27, reaching a magnitude of 5 on Japan's 7-point seismic intensity scale in the Tokachi region of northern Hokkaido and at a depth of approximately 83 kilometers, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. There have been no reports of casualties so far.
Level 5 is described as the level where people find it difficult to walk without holding onto something. According to Hokkaido Electric Power Company, no abnormalities have been detected at the Tomari nuclear power plant.
JR Hokkaido announced that some local train lines in Hokkaido along the Pacific coast have been temporarily suspended, but the Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet trains are operating as usual.
The earthquake occurred amid a week-long meteorological warning of an increased risk of a strong earthquake following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, exactly one week earlier. Hokkaido was among seven areas advised to exercise caution.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a post on X: “We are doing everything we can to gather information on the extent of the damage and provide the public with full updates,” while urging people to exercise caution in the face of earthquakes of similar magnitude. The Japanese government has established a liaison office to respond to the latest earthquake.
The earthquake's intensity was initially estimated at 6.1 on the Richter scale, but this was later revised upwards to 6.2.