News Two strong earthquakes jolt Nagano

Two strong earthquakes hit the northern parts of Nagano Prefecture in central Japan on Saturday, with the first reaching upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, the fourth-highest level. The JMA said the first quake struck at about 13:20. An upper 5 was recorded in the city of Omachi, while Nagano city logged a lower 5, one step down. A second tremor followed at around 14:54, and both cities recorded a lower 5 in that one.


The first quake had an estimated magnitude of 5.0 and a depth of 8 kilometres. The second was slightly stronger at magnitude 5.1, with a depth of about 10 kilometres, according to the agency. Ayataka Ebita said at a press conference that a magnitude 5.1 quake measuring lower 5 had struck to the south of the area on 18 April last year. He added that seismic activity in the area picked up after that, with frequent quakes.