5.9 magnitude earthquake injures 37, disrupts Tokyo-area services
5.9 earthquake near Tokyo injured 37, disrupted trains, with aftershock warnings in place.
Event / Disaster
Tokyo Earthquake August 2026
A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Tokyo on August 23, 2026, centered in Ibaraki Prefecture at 68 kilometers depth. The earthquake injured 37 people, caused minor building damage in Saitama, and disrupted regional train service. Authorities warned of increased risks of aftershocks and landslides.
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2026-08-23 to 2026-11-08 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 23 Aug, 07:51 UTC
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What happened
Risk of landslides and strong aftershocks in Tokyo region
Japan's meteorological agency warned of an increased risk of landslides in the Tokyo region following the earthquake, as the seismic activity may have weakened soils in an area that experienced torrential rainfall on August 22. The agency also warned of the risk of strong aftershocks in the days following the main earthquake.
5.9 magnitude earthquake strikes near Tokyo on August 23
A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture near Tokyo on the morning of August 23, 2026, at approximately 2:00 AM local time. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 68 kilometers. The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the magnitude at 5.8. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the earthquake was powerful enough to trigger the country's alert systems, which broadcasted warning messages and sirens throughout Tokyo and surrounding areas.
Regional train service disrupted by earthquake near Tokyo
The earthquake that struck near Tokyo on August 23 disrupted regional train traffic in the capital on Sunday morning, according to the East Japan Railway Company.
No tsunami risk from Tokyo-area earthquake
The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that the 5.9 magnitude earthquake near Tokyo did not pose a tsunami risk.
Building damage reported in Saitama from earthquake
A building in Saitama, north of Tokyo, sustained minor damage from the earthquake. However, no major structural damage was reported in the immediate aftermath.
37 people injured in Tokyo-area earthquake
The August 23 earthquake near Tokyo resulted in 37 confirmed injuries. Among the injured was an elderly woman from Yokohama south of Tokyo who fell out of bed and hit her hip. No deaths were reported.
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