---
title: "5.9-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan's Hokkaido: USGS"
description: "A shallow 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Monday, the US Geological Survey said."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "AFP"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/afp/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-11-05-5-9-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-off-japans-hokkaido-usgs/"
published: "2018-11-05T05:11:36"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 83
---

# 5.9-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan's Hokkaido: USGS

> A shallow 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Monday, the US Geological Survey said.

By AFP · Published 5 November 2018, 07:11 SAST

## Content

The moderate quake hit at a depth of eight kilometres (five miles), 107 kilometres northeast of Shibetsu.

USGS said there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

It comes after a powerful 6.6-magnitude quake in September rocked Hokkaido, triggering landslides, collapsing houses and killing more than 40.

Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent quakes every year.

But rigid building codes and strict enforcement mean even strong tremors often do little damage. **DM**