The Japan Meteorological Agency
recorded a Magnitude 5.8 Earthquake at a depth of about 60 km, on the coast of the Miyagi Peninsula on Honshū Island, slightly before 6.45 am on Saturday 12 November 2016 Japan
Standard Time (slightly before 9.45 pm on Friday 11 November GMT).
There are no
reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, people have reported feeling it across most of northern and eastern Honshū.
Map showing the location of the 12 November 2016 Miyagi 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 Honshū 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 Honshū. Laurent Jolivet/Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans/Sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement.
Witness
accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events,
and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit
organization Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.
See also...
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