A powerful earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck the western Chugoku region of Japan with the epicenter located in eastern Shimane Prefecture at a relatively shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometers, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which promptly issued early warnings to affected areas while confirming no risk of a tsunami.

The initial tremor, occurring around 10:18 a.m. local time, was followed by several sizeable aftershocks that continued to rattle the region, registering intensities up to upper 5 on Japan's unique seven-level seismic scale in parts of Shimane and neighboring Tottori Prefecture, where strong shaking made standing difficult without support and prompted residents to seek cover.

Located about 32 kilometers from the epicenter, the Shimane Nuclear Power Station operated by Chugoku Electric Power came under immediate scrutiny, but both the utility and Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no irregularities or disruptions to the facility's No. 2 reactor, which had only resumed operations in December 2024 following a lengthy shutdown in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

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Transportation networks experienced temporary disruptions, including the suspension of Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train services between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations due to power outages likely linked to the seismic activity, though inspections allowed gradual resumption of operations with no major damage reported to infrastructure, airports, or highways in the affected prefectures.

Japan, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire and accounting for roughly one-fifth of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher, routinely experiences such events, underscoring the nation's advanced preparedness measures, including robust building codes and rapid alert systems that help mitigate potential impacts even in moderately active zones like the Chugoku region.

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