M6.9 earthquake near Memuro-minami, Hokkaido

What happened

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck 18 km SSW of Obihiro, Japan on 2 Feb 2013, 14:17 UTC at a depth of 107 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 Memuro-minami, about 16 km away in Hokkaido, Japan.