Photo: USGS
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake was reported in Japan on Sunday (April 26), according to the United States Geological Survey.
The earthquake was reported 18 kilometers (about 11 miles) west of Sarabetsu and centered at a depth of 81 kilometers (about 50 miles) at 8:23 p.m. UTC. The USGS said it received 16 reports of people having felt the earthquake at the time of publication on Monday (April 27).
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System confirmed that there was no active tsunami threat following the earthquake. No aftershocks were reported following the initial 6.1-magnitude earthquake.
Sunday's earthquake was the largest reported in Japan in the past week and among two within the past 24 hours; 24 within the past seven days; 66 within the past 30 days; and 784 within the past 365 days among earthquakes measuring 1.5-magnitude or greater. The earthquake was also the largest on the Hokkaido island in the past week and among three in the past seven days; eight in the past 30 days; and 219 in the past 365 days reported in the region measuring 1.5-magnitude or greater.
Earthquakes measured between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude can be felt by a large population, however, rarely results in much damage, according to Michigan Tech via the Sacramento Bee. An estimated 500,000 detectable earthquakes are reported worldwide annually, however, around 100,000 are felt and only 100 typically result in serious damage.
Officials strongly advise that anyone caught in an earthquake should drop, cover and hold on, according to the Sacramento Bee.