Earthquakes Under the Northern Coast of Iwate Prefecture on April 2

On April 2, 2024 at 04:24, an M6.0 earthquake (maximum seismic intensity 5 Lower) occurred at a depth of 71 km under the northern coast of Iwate Prefecture. The earthquake caused two minor injuries (according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications). This earthquake occurred within the Pacific Plate (upper plane of the double seismic zone). The focal mechanism (CMT solution) is of the type with the compression axis in the subducting direction of the Pacific Plate.
For the seismic activity since October 1997, the hypocenter of this earthquake (Area b) is a location where M5-6 earthquakes have sometimes occurred. An M5.7 earthquake (maximum seismic intensity 5 Lower) on July 10, 2015, caused two injuries (according to FDMA).

For the seismic activity since 1919, earthquakes larger than M6 have sometimes occurred in the area around the epicenter of the recent earthquake (Area c), and on July 24, 2008, an M6.8 earthquake (maximum seismic intensity 6 Lower) occurred at a depth of 108 km. The earthquake caused one fatality, 211 injuries, and damage to one house destroyed and 379 partially destroyed (according to FDMA).

Japan Meteorological Agency
[Evaluation of Seismic Activities for April 2024 (May 13, 2024)]