Japan Hit by Second Strong Earthquake as 6.0-Magnitude Quake Strikes Hokkaido
Tokyo (Japan), August 23, 2026, BNN Web Staff: Japan was jolted by a second strong earthquake on Sunday when a magnitude 6.0 tremor struck off the coast of northern Hokkaido, hours after a separate 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Japan and left more than 40 people injured, according to Japanese authorities and local media reports.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the Hokkaido earthquake occurred at 10:45 pm local time at a depth of around 40 kilometres. The tremor registered an intensity of 4 on Japan’s maximum 7-point seismic intensity scale.
No tsunami warning was issued following the Hokkaido earthquake.
The latest tremor came after an early-morning earthquake of preliminary magnitude 5.9 struck the eastern part of the country. The quake was recorded at around 2 am local time, with its epicentre in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of approximately 68 kilometres.
The morning earthquake registered a lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in parts of Ibaraki and was also strongly felt in central Tokyo and neighbouring areas.
### More Than 40 Injured in Morning Quake
According to Kyodo News, more than 40 people were reported injured across Tokyo and surrounding prefectures following the morning earthquake.
Local fire departments reported injuries in several areas, including Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba. Among those injured were a young man and a woman in her 70s in Saitama. Nine injuries were reported in Kanagawa and four in Chiba.
In Tokyo’s Koto Ward, a water pipe ruptured, prompting metropolitan authorities to investigate whether the damage was caused by the earthquake.
The tremor was felt across a broad area of northeastern and central Japan.
### Train Services Disrupted
The morning earthquake also disrupted transportation services. Some early morning train operations were delayed, while several services were run at reduced speeds as railway operators assessed the situation.
JR East and other regional operators reported service disruptions, while some express services operated by Tobu Railway remained suspended.
Japan’s weather agency warned residents to remain alert for the possibility of further strong earthquakes in the days ahead.
Government Activates Emergency Response
Following the morning earthquake, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi directed the establishment of an emergency response task force at the Prime Minister’s Office to assess the situation and coordinate the government’s response.
The authorities continued monitoring both the affected regions and infrastructure for possible damage.
According to the JMA’s seismic intensity descriptions, a lower 5-level tremor can cause most people to feel frightened and seek something stable to hold on to, while unsecured objects may fall from shelves.
Authorities in Hokkaido and other affected regions were also monitoring the situation after the evening earthquake.
