A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).


The earthquake's epicenter was located offshore of Iwate Prefecture at an estimated depth of 50 kilometers.


The strongest shaking was recorded in the Sanpachi-Kamikita area of Aomori Prefecture, where the JMA measured an intensity of Lower 6 on the Japanese seismic scale. At this level, it becomes difficult for people to remain standing, and many unsecured pieces of furniture can topple over.


Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the powerful tremor caused items to fall from shelves in homes and offices. The shaking was also felt in Tokyo, more than 700 kilometers south of the epicenter, where buildings swayed for several moments.


Although minor sea-level fluctuations were possible along the coast, the Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that there was no risk of a destructive tsunami.


As a safety measure, JR East suspended all services on the Tohoku Shinkansen between Sendai and Shin-Aomori in both directions while inspections were carried out.


The Japanese government established an emergency response office at the Prime Minister's Office to assess potential damage and coordinate disaster response efforts.


The latest earthquake comes amid heightened seismic activity in northern Honshu and southern Hokkaido. In April, the same region was struck by a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake, raising continued concerns over ongoing tectonic activity.