M 5.5 Earthquake Recorded 125 km East of Yamada, Japan

What Happened

A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 (mww) occurred on March 8, 2026, at 13:08:35 UTC. The seismic event was centered off the coast of Japan and has been officially reviewed by the USGS.

Location Details

The earthquake was located approximately 125 km east of Yamada, Japan, at coordinates 39.3821°N, 143.4087°E. The event originated at a depth of 31.549 km. Seismologists classify this as an intermediate-depth earthquake, as it occurred between 20 km and 70 km below the surface.

Impact Assessment

At the time of reporting, there are no felt reports associated with this event in the USGS database. The tsunami status is recorded as 0, indicating that no tsunami advisory, watch, or warning was issued. No specific alert level color has been assigned to this event, and there are no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

What You Should Know

Earthquakes with a magnitude between 5.0 and 5.9 are classified as “moderate.” While these events can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings in populated areas, they are often felt as significant shaking with minimal impact on modern infrastructure, especially when located far offshore. Residents in the region should remain aware that aftershocks are a common occurrence following seismic activity of this size.

Source

Data provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.