A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake has rocked parts of northern Japan.

The inland tremor struck about 11 miles west of the town of Sarabetsu on Hokkaido at a depth of 50 miles early on Monday, according to the US Geological Survey. There were no reports of damage or casualties, and no tsunami advisory was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

It follows a 7.7-magnitude offshore earthquake on April 20 that prompted Japan to issue an advisory warning of a slightly increased risk of a potential megaquake along the country’s north-east coast.

The quake struck off the coast of Sanriku at around 4.53pm local time at a depth of about 11 miles, JMA said.

At the time, Japan’s Cabinet Office and the JMA said there was a one per cent chance of a megaquake in the following week – compared with a 0.1 per cent chance under normal conditions – in areas near the Chishima and Japan trenches.

Officials said the advisory was not a prediction but urged residents in 182 towns along the north-east coast to increase preparedness while continuing their daily lives.

Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said last week that two people – one in Aomori and another in Iwate – were injured after falling. Shinkansen bullet trains connecting Tokyo and northern Japan were temporarily suspended, leaving passengers on platforms waiting for services to resume.

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