• Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi leaves 23 injured, 60 000 without power after landfall in Wakayama, Japan

    ByRishav Kothari

    Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi made landfall over southern Wakayama Prefecture at 04:30 JST on June 3 (19:30 UTC on June 2), bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds that injured at least 23 people, damaged 57 homes, left more than 60 000 customers without power, and prompted evacuation orders affecting more than 400 000 residents. The storm also triggered the first Level 5 Special Flood Warning issued under Japan’s new five-level disaster alert system.

  • Strong M6.7 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan

    ByTeo Blašković

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit near the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 11:22 UTC (20:22 LT) on May 15, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 44 km (27 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.7 at a depth of 40 km (25 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), there is no tsunami threat from this event.

  • Strong M6.1 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan

    ByTeo Blašković

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit Hokkaido, Japan, at 20:23 UTC on April 26, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 81 km (50 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 79 km (49 miles).

  • Large wildfire damages structures in Otsuchi, Japan

    ByTeo Blašković

    A large wildfire in Otsuchi, Japan, on April 22, 2026, caused structural damage and evacuations after spreading from woodland into residential zones. At least five buildings were destroyed, with estimates of around 9 ha (22 acres) burned and about 130 people evacuated based on the latest available data.

  • Subsequent earthquake advisory issued after M7.4 event, elevated large-earthquake risk, Japan

    ByTeo Blašković

    Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued an official advisory warning of an elevated risk of a larger earthquake along its Pacific coast on April 20, 2026, after a M7.4 quake near the Japan Trench at 07:53 UTC (16:53 local time). The agency estimates about a 1% chance of a Mw7.8 or greater earthquake occurring within seven days, based on historical statistics.

  • Major M7.4 earthquake hits near east coast of Honshu, Japan, tsunami waves observed along Tohoku coast

    ByTeo Blašković

    A major earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.4 struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, at 07:53 UTC (16:53 local time) on April 20, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). JMA and EMSC are reporting M7.4 at a depth of 10 km (6 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter.

  • Heavy snowfall damages orchards and raises concerns for Japan’s 2026 apple harvest

    ByReet Kaur

    Heavy snowfall affecting Japan since late January 2026 has left at least 46 people dead and more than 550 injured while causing widespread agricultural damage across the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture. Snowfall reached 148 cm (58 inches) in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, in January, breaking branches in apple orchards, collapsing vinyl greenhouses, and burying farm roads that remain inaccessible in some areas. Authorities say the full extent of agricultural losses may not be known until snow cover recedes.