Tako, Japan — A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck near the town of Tako in eastern Japan on Thursday morning, shaking ground in Chiba Prefecture just after 7:27 AM Central time.

What happened:

The quake hit about 3 kilometers east of Tako, Japan, at a depth of roughly 73 kilometers, or about 45 miles below the surface. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the shaking at 1:27 PM local time in Japan. A quake at that depth is considered deep, and deep quakes often feel weaker at the surface than shallow ones of the same size.

Impacts:

No damage reports have come in so far, and the Geological Survey lists no felt reports for this quake. There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake. Shaking from a magnitude 4.5 quake is usually felt near the epicenter but rarely causes serious damage, especially at this depth.

What to do:

If you feel shaking, drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table or desk, and hold on until the shaking stops. Stay away from windows and anything that could fall. After the shaking ends, check for hazards like broken glass or gas leaks, and be ready for aftershocks, which can follow in the hours after a quake.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), November 12, 2026.