M4.8 Earthquake Strikes Near Onagawa, Japan

Onagawa, Japan — A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Japan on Sunday afternoon, November 8, 2026.

What happened:

The quake hit at 2:16 PM Central Time, centered about 38 kilometers east of Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture, at a depth of about 58 kilometers (36 miles). The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the shaking just offshore in the Pacific, east of Japan's main island of Honshu.

Impacts:

No tsunami warning was issued for this earthquake, and no damage reports had come in as of this report. No felt reports were recorded by the USGS in the first minutes after the quake. The depth of the tremor likely limited shaking felt on land.

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 heavy objects that could fall. Check your home for hazards such as gas leaks or broken glass, and be ready for aftershocks, which can follow a quake of this size.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), November 8, 2026.