- A magnitude 6.0
earthquake struck the coast of Japan on Wednesday morning local time. - Journalists in the area said it lasted between 20 seconds and 3 minutes.
- The Japanese Meteorological Association said there was no threat of a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the coast of the Ibaraki prefecture in Japan, with shaking felt by some attending the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The earthquake hit about 5:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to reports from the Japan Meteorological Agency, which monitors seismic activity.
The JMA suggested the earthquake's epicenter was 40 km - or about 25 miles - deep off the coast of Japan. The agency added that there was no threat of a tsunami.
Journalists in Japan said the earthquake lasted between 20 seconds to 3 minutes. Each reported mild rumbling.
-Lester Holt (@LesterHoltNBC) August 3, 2021
Japan is no stranger to earthquakes, as the country rests over three converging tectonic plates. When just one of those tectonic plates shifts, an earthquake can occur.
Japanese officials specifically created Tokyo's Olympic venues to withstand earthquakes and natural disasters. According to Firstpost, the Ariake volleyball arena contains "shock-absorbing giant rubber cushions" to curtail shaking while the Olympic Village is protected by sea walls that can protect against tsunamis reaching 6.5 feet.
Several volunteers at the games have set out to retell their experiences from a 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 18,000 people. Some have handed out business cards with their tsunami stories, while others set up storytelling centers near bus stations to share their experiences.