Strong and shallow M6.8 earthquake, multiple strong aftershocks hit off the east coast of Honshu, Japan
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.8 hit off the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 08:03 UTC (17:03 local time) on November 9, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported it as M6.7 at a depth of 10 km, while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported M6.8 at a depth of 5 km (3.1 miles).
Epicenter of M6.8 earthquake off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on November 9, 2025. Credit: TW/Google, SAM
The epicenter was located 125 km (78 miles) E of Yamada (population 15 195), 129 km (80 miles) ESE of Miyako (population 51 159), and 130 km (81 miles) E of Ōtsuchi (population 11 572), Iwate, Japan.
1 345 000 people are estimated to have felt light shaking, and about 42 000 weak.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are heavy wood frame and reinforced/confined masonry construction. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and fires that might have contributed to losses.
Liquefaction triggered by this earthquake is considered unlikely. No significant landsliding is expected.
Between 08:03 and 09:28 UTC on November 9, 2025, the USGS registered several aftershocks, all at depths of around 10 km — M5.5 at 08:11 UTC, M5.9 at 08:14 UTC, M5.6 at 08:34 UTC, M5.2 at 08:49 UTC, M6.4 at 08:54 UTC, M5.4 at 09:10 UTC and finally an M5.7 at 09:28 UTC.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.8 earthquake off the east coast of Honshu, Japan — USGS — November 9, 2025
2 M6.8 earthquake off the east coast of Honshu, Japan — EMSC — November 9, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
There are many underwater volcanoes around Japan, a result of its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire where tectonic plates collide. The country has about 111 active volcanoes, a significant number of which are submerged, and they frequently have eruptions, sometimes creating new land. However, I believe in the near future, of the huge underwater volcanoes will erupt violently and generates massive tsunami