Gyoo

The Niigata prefecture has been hit by several earthquakes today, one measuring a magnitude of 6.8, about 250km from Tokyo.

The M6.8 quake hit at 5:56 p.m., the second one, measured M5.9 and hit at 6:12 p.m., and the third, measured M6.3 and hit at 6:34 p.m. A M5.0 quake hit the area two minutes after the third one. It was followed by a bigger one of M5.9 at 7:46 p.m. Some 125 strong aftershocks struck the area in the four hours after the initial jolt.

Several houses collapsed and a bullet train was partially derailed.

Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active areas, with an earthquake occurring every five minutes. The country accounts for about 20 per cent of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude six or greater.