Strong Earthquake Hits Central Japan, at Least 22 Injured
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early on Sunday, injuring at least 22 people and shattering shop windows. Trains slowed as a precaution while officials checked for damage.
Published November 8, 2026 8:43 am GMT+0545
A strong earthquake shook central Japan early on Sunday, injuring at least 22 people and shattering shop windows as residents fled buildings in the dark.
Japan's Meteorological Agency put the magnitude at 5.7, while the United States Geological Survey measured it at 5.5. The quake struck at 1:04 am local time, 9:49 pm on Saturday in Nepal, with its centre about 40 kilometres below the surface in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The strongest shaking was felt in Aichi Prefecture, next to Shizuoka. Tremors spread across a wide area, reaching Hamamatsu and the old capitals of Kyoto and Nara, as well as Yamanashi, home to Mount Fuji, and Gifu. No shaking was felt in Tokyo.
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Shop windows broke and debris scattered across streets. In one bookshop, books fell from shelves and lay scattered on the floor. Some of the injured were hurt after falling on stairs while leaving buildings.
Bullet trains on the Shinkansen network in the affected area ran at reduced speed as a precaution while railway lines and infrastructure were checked for damage. No tsunami warning was issued.
Japan's weather agency warned people to be ready for further strong shaking in the coming week, especially over the next two to three days.
Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are common, and has strict building rules and disaster drills designed to limit the damage when a quake strikes.
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