M6.7 Earthquake 49 km ESE of Ōfunato, Japan — May 15, 2026
2026-05-15 11:22:01 UTC (1 day ago) · approx. 8:22 PM UTC+9 local
Felt by 90 people across nearby locations. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 5.6 (strong).
On May 15, 2026 at 11:22 UTC, a magnitude 6.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 49 km ESE of Ōfunato, Japan, at a depth of 43.6 km and coordinates 38.9127°, 142.2498°. The earthquake was reported felt by 90 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 5.6 (strong). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 99 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 750, making it a moderate-impact event. The nearest populated place is Ofunato (population 34,568).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 25 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Japan, a region characterized by the intersection of four tectonic plates — Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American — creating multiple subduction zones. The nearest mapped fault system is the Japan Trench. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 90 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 383,691 |
| MMI 4 | light | 5,982,775 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 596,855 |
| MMI 6 | strong | 8 |
Earthquake Details
142.2498°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 6.7 earthquake near Ōfunato, Japan?
The magnitude 6.7 earthquake that struck 49 km ESE of Ōfunato, Japan on May 15, 2026 at 11:22 UTC had a depth of 43.6 km. It was felt by 90 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 5.6 (strong). For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 38.9127°, 142.2498°, which is 49 km ESE of Ōfunato, Japan. The nearest populated place is Ofunato (population 34,568). View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 6.7 earthquakes can continue for weeks to months and gradually diminish over time.
Has Japan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Japan was the M9.1 Tohoku earthquake of March 11, 2011. Today's magnitude 6.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sxwq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 15, 2026). M6.7 Earthquake 49 km ESE of Ōfunato, Japan — May 15, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sxwq/