M6.0 earthquake near Sarubetsu, Hokkaido

What happened

A magnitude 6 earthquake struck 56 km SE of Obihiro, Japan on 7 May 1988, 01:59 UTC at a depth of 72 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 Sarubetsu, about 45 km away in Hokkaido, Japan.