Magnitude 4.2 Shallow Earthquake Hits Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, Reaching Intensity 4

A shallow earthquake measuring magnitude 4.2 struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on the morning of July 9, registering a maximum seismic intensity of 4 in Kamiamakusa City. The tremor occurred at 8:02 AM JST (7:02 AM Taiwan time), with its epicenter located at a depth of only 10 kilometers in the Amakusa-Ashikita region.

According to reports from NHK, the earthquake's epicenter was at latitude 32.5 degrees North and longitude 130.5 degrees East. Seismic intensity of 3 was recorded in Minamata City, Amakusa City, and Ashikita Town within Kumamoto Prefecture. Several other areas, including Tsunagi Town, Kumamoto City's north and south wards, Yatsushiro City, Tamana City, Uto City, and Uki City, experienced an intensity of 2.

While the earthquake was felt in Kumamoto Prefecture, tremors were also detected in other regions. Minam島ara City in Nagasaki Prefecture recorded an intensity of 3. Miyazaki Prefecture and Kagoshima Prefecture reported an intensity of 2 in multiple locations, while Fukuoka, Saga, and Oita prefectures experienced an intensity of 1 in some areas.

Fortunately, the earthquake did not pose a tsunami risk. This event follows a larger magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28.