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Magnitude 5.7 earthquake jolts central Japan, at least 22 injured
The quake struck Shizuoka Prefecture shortly after 1 am on Sunday, with the strongest shaking in Aichi. Bullet trains slowed and shop windows shattered, and forecasters warn of more strong tremors.
Key points
- A magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit central Japan about 1:04 am local time on Sunday, November 8, and at least 22 people were hurt.
- The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of possible strong quakes over the coming week, mainly in the next two to three days.
- Officials said no change has been detected on the Nankai Trough, where a megaquake is feared.
A strong earthquake struck central Japan in the early hours of Sunday, November 8, 2026, and at least 22 people were injured, according to local media. The Japan Meteorological Agency put the magnitude at 5.7, while the US Geological Survey measured it at 5.5.
The quake hit at about 1:04 am local time, with its centre in Shizuoka Prefecture roughly 40 kilometres below the surface. The strongest shaking was recorded in neighbouring Aichi Prefecture, and tremors were felt in the city of Hamamatsu and in Kyoto, Nara, Yamanashi, where Mount Fuji stands, and Gifu. It was not felt in Tokyo. Smaller aftershocks followed through the night.
Injuries and damage
Most of the injured were hurt in the panic, and some fell down stairs while fleeing their homes. Shop windows shattered, leaving glass across the streets, and a bookstore saw its shelves emptied onto the floor. Shinkansen bullet trains ran at reduced speed in the affected areas as a precaution.
The sources reviewed do not mention a tsunami warning.
Warning for the week ahead
The meteorological agency cautioned that strong quakes could follow over the coming week, especially in the next two to three days. Agency official Ayataka Ebita told reporters: “Please be on the lookout for mudslides, falling rocks and the possible effects from rainfall.”
Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and feels such tremors often, but attention has turned to the Nankai Trough off the Pacific coast, where scientists say a megaquake could one day strike. Ebita said no apparent change had been detected on the plate boundary so far.
Residents in the affected prefectures have been advised to keep to safe ground, stay away from slopes and damaged structures, and watch for official updates as the agency continues to assess the aftershock pattern.