Japan Earthquake: Hits Off Northern Coast

This Saturday, reports from a U.S. Geological Survey show that a hard earthquake hit the northern region of Japan.

Initial indications show that the earthquake hit at a magnitude of 6.9 off the island of Hokkaido at a depth of 64 miles, or 103 kilometers, near the town of Obihiro.

The Richter magnitude scale, often shortened to the Richter scale, is one of the more common ways used to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake.

The scale has been used since the mid-20^th century and is based on a 10 logarithmic scale, defining the logarithm of the ratio of the amplitude of the waves measured by a seismograph to an arbitrary small amplitude

However, the earthquake has not been reported to have generated a destructive tsunami according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

No reports of damages have been given to the police as of 11:30 p.m., approximately 10 minutes after the earthquake occurred, according to public broadcaster NHK.

No abnormalities were reported at the Tohoku Electric Power Co's Higashidori nuclear plant in northern Japan, also according to the NHK.

This is not the first earthquake to hit Japan, a country that often sees such disasters. Over 50 earthquakes have jolted the area over the last century, with some going past the 8 point mark on the Richter scale and an increased frequency in the last few years.

And, as previously stated, though no reports of damage or injuries have so far been reported, ongoing investigations are ongoing in the area.