M6.3 earthquake near Shizunai-furukawachō, Hokkaido

What happened

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck 29 km NW of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan on 23 Jan 1981, 04:58 UTC at a depth of 116 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is Shizunai-furukawachō, about 29 km away in Hokkaido, Japan.