M5.4 Earthquake 106 km E of Yamada, Japan — March 8, 2026
2026-03-08 13:08:35 UTC (2026-03-08) · approx. 11:08 PM UTC+10 local
Felt by 1 person across nearby locations. Aftershock of the M6.0 mainshock.
On March 8, 2026 at 13:08 UTC, a magnitude 5.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 106 km E of Yamada, Japan, at a depth of 16.0 km and coordinates 39.3861°, 143.1860°. The earthquake was reported felt by 1 personacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 3.6 (light). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 75 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 449, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Tono (population 25,181).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 3.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 6.0 mainshock that occurred 29 days ago 100 km E of Miyako, Japan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 21 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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 1 citizen response 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 | 2,224,416 |
Earthquake Details
143.1860°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Yamada, Japan?
The magnitude 5.4 earthquake that struck 106 km E of Yamada, Japan on March 8, 2026 at 13:08 UTC had a depth of 16.0 km. It was felt by 1 person with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 3.6 (light). For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.3861°, 143.1860°, which is 106 km E of Yamada, Japan. The nearest populated place is Tono (population 25,181). View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.4 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 100 km E of Miyako, Japan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 5.4 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: us7000s2z4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 8, 2026). M5.4 Earthquake 106 km E of Yamada, Japan — March 8, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000s2z4/