As Japan marks the 14th anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku mega-quake—a magnitude 9.0 disaster that killed nearly 16 000 and triggered the Fukushima crisis—a new study from Tohoku, Hokkaido, and JAMSTEC researchers warns that strain building in the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido could unleash another magnitude 9.0 quake in the coming decades.
Japan has increased the estimated probability of a magnitude 8 and 9 megaquake occurring in the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years to around 80% on January 16, 2025, after an M6.8 earthquake hit near the coast of Kyushu. The probability was previously estimated at 70 to 80%.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.8 hit near the coast of Kyushu, Japan at 12:19 UTC (21:19 LT) on January 13, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 49 km (30 miles). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is reporting M6.4 at a depth of 30 km (18 miles).
A strong and shallow M6.4 earthquake hit off the coast of Japan’s Noto Peninsula on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Tremors of varying intensities (seismic intensity 1 or higher) were recorded across regions from northeastern to western Japan, including Ishikawa, Toyama, Niigata, and Fukui prefectures. The quake was an aftershock of a major M7.6 earthquake on January 1, 2024, in which more than 440 people lost their lives.
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M6.4 hit near the coast of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, at 13:47 UTC on November 26, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). USGS are EMSC are reporting M6.1 at a depth of 10 km.
A strong and shallow earthquake, registered by the USGS and EMSC as M6.2, hit southeast of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan at 12:16 UTC on November 17, 2024. Both agencies are reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). JMA is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 10 km.
A strong and shallow earthquake, registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M5.9, struck near Torishima Island, Japan, at 23:14 UTC on September 23, 2024 (08:14 JST on September 24). The agency reported a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The USGS reported M5.6 at a depth of 11.7 km (7.3 miles), while the EMSC reported M5.6 at a depth of 9 km (5.6 miles).
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its first megaquake advisory on Thursday, August 8, 2024, several hours after the M7.1 earthquake hit near the coast of Kyushu. The advisory warns that if a major earthquake were to occur in the future, strong shaking and large tsunamis would be generated.
A very strong and shallow earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M7.1 hit near the coast of Kyushu, Japan at 07:43 UTC on August 8, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 30 km (18.6 miles). USGS is reporting M7.1 at a depth of 25 km (15.5 miles); EMSC M7.1 at a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles).
A deep earthquake registered by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as M6.3 hit off the west coast of Ogasawara Islands at 20:02 UTC on July 7, 2024. The agency is reporting a depth of 530 km (329 miles). USGS is reporting M6.2 at a depth of 571 km (354 miles).
