An estimated magnitude-6.1 earthquake occurred in Shimane Prefecture at about 1:30 a.m. Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
An upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 was registered in Oda and a lower 5 in Izumo, Unnan and other areas. The quake had an epicenter in the western region of the prefecture and occurred at a depth of about 12 kilometers.
"It's possible that an earthquake of the same scale or larger may occur within about a week," Earthquake and Tsunami Observation Division Director Toshiyuki Matsumori warned at a press conference.
After the first tremor, 24 quakes measuring at least 1 on the Japanese scale hit Shimane Prefecture by 10 a.m. Monday, four of which measured a 4 on the intensity scale. This is the first time Shimane Prefecture has experienced an upper 5 or stronger earthquake since Oct. 6, 2000.
A scale-4 temblor was also registered in Tottori, Okayama, Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures.
Five people were injured due to such things as falling objects, and many buildings were damaged, according to the Shimane prefectural government.
In Oda, the earthquake had damaged 177 buildings and cut off water supplies to over 1,000 homes and electricity to about 130 houses as of noon on Monday. A total of 192 people escaped to 50 evacuation sites and 22 elementary and junior high schools were closed, even though opening ceremonies were scheduled on the day. A landslide and rockfalls occurred in Izumo and Misato.
The Shimane nuclear power plant in Matsue was not operating, and Chugoku Electric Power Co. said no problems were detected.
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