5.9-magnitude earthquake hits Japan’s Kagoshima:No tsunami warning issued for now

A powerful 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kagoshima region on Wednesday, shaking buildings and triggering panic among residents across several parts of the area, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. According to initial reports, strong tremors were felt in multiple locations, prompting people to rush out of homes and buildings as the quake rattled the region. Authorities said they were assessing the situation and monitoring possible damage following the earthquake. However, there were no immediate reports of casualties or major destruction. No tsunami warning was issued immediately after the quake, easing fears of a larger coastal emergency. Japan, which lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries and regularly experiences seismic activity due to the movement of tectonic plates in the region. Japan, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami In 2011, a massive 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s eastern coast near the Oshika Peninsula at a depth of around 24 km, triggering one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country’s history. More than 15,000 people were killed, while over 2,000 remain missing, according to the National Police Agency. The powerful quake caused severe shaking across northeastern Japan. Around 20 minutes later, tsunami waves hit parts of Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south, causing widespread destruction. The tsunami later struck the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where seawater inundation led to reactor meltdowns and explosions. The disaster resulted in the release of radioactive material, causing nuclear contamination concerns and forcing Japan to shut down its nuclear power plants for nearly three years. Separately, historical records note that India’s first modern ship, “Jalusha,” built at the Scindia Shipyard in Visakhapatnam, was commissioned on March 11, 1948, in the presence of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. March 11 also marks several significant global events across history, including major incidents such as the 2004 Madrid train bombings in Spain that killed 190 people, political milestones like Lithuania’s declaration of independence in 1990, and other notable developments in science, politics, and sports over the years. Why do earthquakes occur? The Earth’s surface is made up of seven major and several smaller tectonic plates. These plates are constantly moving and occasionally collide with one another. When they collide, the edges of the plates can bend, and under excessive pressure, they may break or slip. This releases a large amount of energy from beneath the Earth’s surface. As this energy travels outward, it causes disturbances in the ground, which we experience as an earthquake. Deadliest earthquakes in history: 1556 China quake and 1960 Chile quake The most deadly earthquake in recorded history struck China in 1556, killing an estimated 830,000 people. In terms of intensity, the strongest earthquake occurred in Chile on May 22, 1960, registering 9.5 on the Richter scale. The quake triggered a massive tsunami that caused widespread devastation across southern Chile, the Hawaiian Islands, Japan, Philippines, eastern New Zealand, and southeast Australia. The tsunami claimed 1,655 lives and injured around 3,000 people, leaving a lasting impact across multiple countries. The science behind earthquakes The surface of our Earth is mainly made up of 7 large and several small tectonic plates. These plates continuously float and sometimes collide with each other. Sometimes the edges of the plates bend due to collision, and when more pressure is applied, these plates start breaking. In such a situation, the energy released from below finds a way out, and after this disturbance, an earthquake occurs.