Small Earthquake Hits Okinawa, Japan
Listen to the story
A small earthquake struck Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan on the 25th.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake happened at 2:32 p.m.
The maximum seismic intensity was 2, felt in the towns of Nago, Motobu, and Onna.
Seismic intensity is a scale used in Japan to describe how strongly people feel an earthquake in a certain area.
The scale runs from 1, which is very weak, up to 7, which is extremely strong and dangerous.
An intensity of 2 usually means light shaking that most people notice but that causes little concern.
On the same day, a separate, smaller earthquake was reported near Miyakojima City, also in Okinawa Prefecture.
That quake had a maximum intensity of only 1, the weakest level on the scale.
Both events were minor and were recorded as routine seismic activity in the region.
There were no reports of injuries or damage from either earthquake.
Okinawa, a group of subtropical islands, lies far south of Japan's main islands.
Japan sits in an area with frequent seismic activity, and small earthquakes are common across the country.
The Japan Meteorological Agency regularly monitors and announces such events for public safety.
Local residents are generally familiar with minor tremors and are not usually alarmed by low-intensity quakes like these.
Officials did not issue any special warnings following the earthquakes.
Vocabulary10 words
- earthquake
- sudden shaking of the ground
- Japan Meteorological Agency
- Japan's official group for weather and earthquake reports
- seismic intensity
- a number showing how strong shaking feels in a place
- minor
- small and not serious
- prefecture
- a large area, like a region, in Japan
- tremor
- a small shaking movement of the ground
- subtropical
- a warm climate, near the tropics
- monitor
- to watch or check something regularly
- residents
- people who live in a place
- routine
- normal and happening often
Quiz
Answer key
1. At 2:32 p.m. on the 25th 2. 1 3. No injuries or damage were reported
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A small earthquake struck Okinawa _____ in southern Japan on the 25th.
According to the _____, the quake happened at 2:32 p.m.
The maximum _____ was 2, felt in the towns of Nago, Motobu, and Onna.
The scale runs from 1, which is very weak, up to _____, which is extremely strong and dangerous.
An intensity of 2 usually means light _____ that most people notice.
On the same day, a separate, smaller earthquake was reported near _____ City.
That quake had a maximum intensity of only _____, the weakest level on the scale.
Both events were _____ and were recorded as routine seismic activity.
There were no reports of _____ or damage from either earthquake.
Japan sits in an area with frequent _____ activity, and small earthquakes are common.