6.1-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan’s Okinawa

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off Japan’s southwestern islands on Friday, shaking areas near Okinawa but with no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at 1:04 pm local time (0404GMT), with its epicentre located about 136 kilometres north-northeast of Hirara, Japan, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres.

Tsunami risk and monitoring

Initial assessments indicated the epicentre was in a remote offshore area near Okinawa Prefecture, limiting the risk of widespread damage. Authorities had not reported injuries or structural damage in the immediate aftermath. There was also no immediate indication of a tsunami threat following the earthquake, according to initial monitoring reports. Japan is among the world’s most earthquake‑prone countries, sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates converge.