(4)The Earthquake near Lake Kussharo (May 29, 1938, M 6.1)

This earthquake occurred at a shallow location on land, but was rather large for this type of earthquake in Hokkaido. There was one fatality near the source region. Fig.3-19 shows its seismic intensity distribution. A total of 13 aftershocks were recorded on May 29 at Kushiro Meteorological Station. Their frequency decreased rapidly, and there was only one aftershock on May 30. There was slip apparent on the earth's surface by this earthquake, and changes occurred in the hot springs and groundwater near Teshikaga. Destructive earthquakes also occurred near Teshikaga in 1959 (M 6.3) and 1967 (M 6.5). This is the only earthquake with a magnitude greater than 6 to have occurred in a shallow location on land in Hokkaido since modern seismological observation began in 1885.