The Japan Meteorological Agency (which also monitors seismic activity) recorded a Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake at a depth of 50 km off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, slightly after 1.45 pm Japan Standard Time (slightly after 4.45 am GMT) on Tuesday 17 February 2015. There are no reports of any damage or injuries associated with this event, though it was felt across much of eastern Honshū and southern Hokkaido.
Map showing the location of the 17 February 2014 Iwate Prefecture Earthquake, and areas where the event was felt. Japan Meteorological Agency.
Japan has a complex tectonic situation, with parts of the country on
four different tectonic plates. Eastern Honshu area lies on the boundary
between the Pacific, Eurasian and Philipine Plates, where the Pacific
Plate is passing beneath the Eurasian and Philipine Plates as it is
subducted into the Earth. This is not a smooth process; the rocks of the
two plates constantly stick together, only to break apart again as the
pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes in the process.
The movement of the Pacific and Philippine Plates beneath eastern Honshu. Laurent Jolivet/Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans/Sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement.
See also...
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The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded a Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake at a
depth of 90 km in eastern Iwate Prefecture on northern Honshū Island,
Japan, slightly...