A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 has hit a part of northern Japan. The quake struck inland, 11 miles west of the small town of Sarabetsu on Hokkaido island, at a depth of 50 miles early on Monday. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake’s strength as 6.1 magnitude.

Fortunately, there were no reports of damage or casualties, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) did not issue a tsunami advisory. This event follows a 7.7-magnitude offshore earthquake on April 20, which led to Japan issuing a warning about a slightly increased risk of a potential megaquake in the country’s northeastern coastal regions.

The recent earthquake near the Sanriku coast occurred at approximately 4:53 pm local time, with a depth of about 11 miles, according to JMA. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake as measuring 7.4 in magnitude.

Authorities from the Cabinet Office and JMA stated that there was a 1% chance of a megaquake occurring in the next week following the quake near the Chishima and Japan trenches, compared to the usual 0.1% risk during regular times. While not a prediction, the advisory urged residents in 182 towns along the northeastern coasts to maintain preparedness.

Last week, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported two injuries due to falls in Aomori and Iwate. Shinkansen bullet train services between Tokyo and northern Japan were briefly halted, causing delays for passengers.

This marks the second advisory issued for the region in recent months, with the first following a 7.5-magnitude quake in December. Fortunately, no megaquake transpired during that time.

JMA confirmed that the most recent earthquake occurred outside the advisory area, and the special alert week would conclude as scheduled. Notably, it has been 15 years since a devastating 9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, caused extensive destruction in northern Japan, resulting in over 22,000 fatalities and displacing nearly half a million individuals.