Hitachi, Japan — A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Japan late Monday night, shaking the sea floor about 78 kilometers east-southeast of Hitachi.

What is happening:

The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake at magnitude 4.9, centered offshore at a depth of about 35 kilometers, or roughly 22 miles. It struck at 11:20 PM Central time on Monday, November 9. The epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Honshu, Japan's main island.

Local impacts:

No tsunami warning was issued for this quake, and no damage reports had come in at the time of this report. No shaking reports had been filed with the Geological Survey yet. A quake of this size offshore is not expected to cause major damage on land, though people near the coast may have felt light shaking.

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 such as broken glass, gas leaks, or damaged walls. Be ready for aftershocks, which can follow a quake like this one. If you are near the coast and feel strong shaking, move to higher ground right away.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), November 9, 2026.