Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Strikes Central Japan, Injuring Dozens and Prompting Aftershock Warning
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early on Sunday, November 8, 2026, with its epicenter in western Shizuoka Prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the quake at a depth of 41 kilometers. The strongest shaking, recorded at shindo 5-upper, was felt in Chita, Aichi Prefecture. This marks the first time in approximately 30 years that an earthquake of this intensity has been observed in Aichi Prefecture. The tremor resulted in at least 28 reported injuries across Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, including two serious injuries in Aichi. Damage included shattered windows at shops and businesses, books falling from shelves, and some structural damage to non-residential buildings. Rail services, including parts of the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train, experienced delays and reduced speeds for safety checks, and some local roads were affected by rockfalls. No tsunami threat was issued, and checks at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant identified no abnormalities.