A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture on November 8, 2026, injuring over 20 people and shattering store windows across Aichi and Shizuoka. The tremor disrupted Shinkansen bullet train operations and prompted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to establish an emergency liaison office. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued no tsunami warning and reported no abnormalities at the Hamaoka nuclear plant or the Nankai Trough, while urging vigilance against potential aftershocks.
Earthquake magnitude and intensity
- ▪A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan
- ▪The November 8, 2026 earthquake registered a maximum seismic intensity of upper 5 on Japan's scale in Chita City, Aichi Prefecture, and lower 5 in parts of Aichi, Nagano, and Gifu prefectures
Reported injuries
- ▪Local media reported that in Osaka, Japan, a foreign resident was hospitalized after falling from a second-floor apartment when startled by the November 8, 2026 earthquake
- ▪The November 8, 2026 earthquake in central Japan injured over 20 people across Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, with reported injuries including falls on stairs and a bed fall
Disruptions to train services
- ▪The November 8, 2026 earthquake forced temporary delays and suspensions of regional train services across central Japan, including Shinkansen bullet trains running at slower speeds
- ▪Operator JR Central delayed Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations on November 8, 2026 while conducting safety checks
Government response and warnings
- ▪Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the central government established a liaison office at the Prime Minister's Office Crisis Management Centre to coordinate earthquake response efforts
- ▪Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents in affected areas of central Japan to remain alert for potential aftershocks of similar magnitude following the November 8, 2026 earthquake
Japan Meteorological Agency warnings
- ▪Japan Meteorological Agency official Ayataka Ebita warned residents to prepare for possible strong quakes over the following week, particularly within two to three days after November 8, 2026
- ▪The Japan Meteorological Agency instructed residents in central Japan to watch for mudslides, falling rocks, and potential rainfall hazards following the November 8, 2026 earthquake
Story comments
Loading comments…