Magnitude 5 quakes hit Japan’s Nagano prefecture
The quakes struck Omachi at 1.20pm and 2.54pm, with the nation’s weather agency warning of aftershocks over the next week or so
Two strong earthquakes jolted Nagano Prefecture in central Japan on Saturday, with the first measuring a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 followed by another registering magnitude 5.1, the country’s weather agency said.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of aftershocks on a similar scale over the next week or so. No tsunami warnings were issued.
The first major quake occurred at 1.20pm in Omachi and registered upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7, according to the agency.
At 2.54pm, another quake registering lower 5 hit Omachi and nearby areas.
Upper 5 is defined by the agency as a level at which many people find it difficult to walk.