M6.2 earthquake near Sarubetsu, Hokkaido

What happened

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck 44 km W of Kushiro, Japan on 12 May 1999, 17:59 UTC at a depth of 103 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 44 km away in Hokkaido, Japan.