gg2
Japan earthquakes Tokyo
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, shaking Tokyo and injuring at least 37. The quake hit at 2 a.m. local time, with no tsunami warning issued.
Background
Japan is prone to earthquakes due to its location on tectonic plate boundaries. The quake occurred in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, at a depth of about 70 kilometers. It registered lower 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in parts of Tokyo and surrounding prefectures, causing injuries and minor damage.
How it unfolded
- Aug 23, 2026 02:00A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Toride, Ibaraki Prefecture, at a depth of about 70 km, causing strong shaking in Tokyo and surrounding areas.
- Aug 23, 2026 09:00Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported at least 37 injuries, one serious, and one building damaged in Saitama Prefecture. Train services were disrupted, and a water pipe ruptured in Tokyo.
- recentlyAuthorities continued inspections and urged residents to remain vigilant for possible aftershocks of similar magnitude.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Japan Meteorological Agency said there is no tsunami threat and urged residents in strongly shaken areas to stay alert for possible aftershocks.
- Analysts
- USGS issued a Green PAGER alert, indicating low likelihood of significant fatalities or economic losses.
Still unverified
The exact number of injuries varied by source (more than 20 vs. at least 37) as reports were updated.