November 10, 2008
Earthquake Research Committee,
Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion
In the evaluation reports on the earthquake under central Iwate prefecture [northern coastal region of Iwate prefecture] on July 24, 2008 (M6.8), which were presented at the extraordinary meeting on the day of the event and at the regular monthly meeting of the following month, the earthquake was stated to have a maximum seismic intensity of 6 Upper.
However, after close examination of the seismic intensities observed in this area, the Japan Meteorological Agency judged that the quality of the seismic intensity estimate obtained at the station which recorded 6 Upper (Ohno, Hirono-cho, Iwate prefecture) was not sufficient. Therefore, the seismic intensity at the aforementioned station is now regarded as ‘unknown’, and the maximum seismic intensity has been changed from 6 Upper to 6 Lower.
Consequently, the Earthquake Research Committee has also revised the maximum seismic intensity from 6 Upper to 6 Lower.