Japan Earthquake 2014: Magnitude 6.8 Hits Nagano, 15 People Injured, 21 People Temporarily Trapped, Possibility of Tsunami?

Japan earthquake 2014 - Another earthquake has hit Japan this year. A village west of Nagano had been struck by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake temporarily trapping 21 people inside their homes and injuring 13 individuals. Following the earthquake, is there a possibility of a tsunami?

The mountainous region of Japan, Nagano, which had hosted the Winter Olympics of 1998 had suffered a magnitude 6.8 earthquake. The Japan earthquake 2014 struck around 10 pm. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, it had a depth of 10 kilometres. On the other hand, the US Geological Survey measured the earthquake at 6.2.

Given the Japan earthquake 2014 occurred inland, Japanese authorities confirm that a tsunami won't be a possibility. As for quake in Nagano, around 21 people have reportedly been trapped temporarily inside their homes. 15 injuries were noted and had already been rushed to Omachi's public hospital. Three of the individuals are in serious condition.

"We are trying to assess the situation as quickly as possible, and we'll do our utmost for the rescue of the injured people," says Yoshihide Suga, Japan's top government spokesman in a report by USA Today.

The most critical area affected by the Japan earthquake 2014 is Hakuba. The town is west of Nagano wherein ten homes had reportedly collapsed. Nine people have already been rescued. Thankfully, none of them reported serious physical injuries.

Nagano's prefecture disaster management official, Shigeharu Fujimura says a "thorough assessment of damage after sunrise" of the Japan earthquake 2014 will be done. The quake was also reported to have been felt across northern Japan, including Tokyo.

Nuclear reactors have already been assessed after the Japan earthquake 2014. Tokyo Electric Power Co. had confirmed reports via Twitter by Saturday. No electric facilities nor power plants were damaged in the Japan earthquake 2014. Aftershocks continued even after the Saturday quake, which were recorded at magnitude 4.1.