M6.6

2007 Japan Earthquake

Chūetsu-oki, Niigata, Japan — July 16, 2007

The 2007 Chūetsu-oki earthquake struck near the world's largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, causing a fire in a transformer and releasing a small amount of radioactive water into the Sea of Japan. The event raised global concerns about nuclear plant seismic safety standards.

Earthquake Facts

Magnitude

M6.6

Date

Jul 16, 2007

Depth

12 km

Deaths

11

Latitude

37.558°

Longitude

138.608°

Tsunami

No

Region

Japan

Tectonic Cause

Reverse fault along the compressional Sea of Japan margin. The earthquake struck a different fault segment than the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake but in the same regional tectonic setting.

Sources & Further Reading

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