Shallow M6.5 earthquake hits offshore Iwate, Japan
An earthquake measuring M6.5 was recorded at 14:18 UTC on March 26, 2026, about 122 km (76 miles) east of Yamada, Japan. The hypocenter was determined at a shallow depth of 9.5 km (5.9 miles).
The coordinates for this event place the epicenter offshore, east of Iwate Prefecture on Japan’s Pacific coast, near 39.4°N, 143.4°E. This region lies northeast of the main island of Honshu, well within the seismically active offshore zone bordering Japan.
Critical infrastructure in the vicinity includes major shipping routes, fisheries, and coastal transportation links serving Iwate and neighboring prefectures. The general area is known for maritime industry and serves as an access point for sea transport to and from northeastern Japan.
There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.
The significance index is 650 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.
Japan is located at the convergent boundary of the Pacific and Eurasian (and Philippine Sea) tectonic plates, making its northeastern offshore region particularly prone to large earthquakes along the Japan Trench and subduction zone.
This information was last updated at 14:35 UTC on March 26, 2026.