On Sunday Night a Significant M5.9 Earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean near Iwaki (Japan).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on October 4th, 2025. Last updated December 3rd, 2025.

A significant MAG-5.9 earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean 72 kilometer from Iwaki, Japan just after midnight of Sunday October 5th, 2025. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 34 million people.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 57 kilometers (35 mi) off the coast of Japan, 72 kilometer north-east of Iwaki in Fukushima. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 54 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Oct 5, 2025 00:21 (Tokyo Time) - Oct 4, 2025 15:21 Universal Time.
Location:	72 km NE of Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan. Coordinates 37°25'17"N 141°33'9"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 61 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.04 .
Depth:	54 km (34 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 34 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 34 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IV, which corresponds with light shaking and likely no damage. Roughly 3,460,000 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 31 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Japan .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
30,650,000	III	Weak	Probably none
3,460,000	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Japan . Located 49 kilometer (30 mi) east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Namie (Fukushima, Japan) is the nearest significant population center. Namie experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Tokyo is located 254 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Yokohama is located 279 km to the southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Sendai is located 112 km to the north-northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
49 km (30 mi) W from epicenter	Namie Fukushima, Japan.	IV Light
72 km (45 mi) SW from epicenter	Iwaki Fukushima, Japan.	IV Light
86 km (53 mi) W from epicenter	Funehikimachi-funehiki Fukushima, Japan.	III Weak
92 km (57 mi) NW from epicenter	Watari Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
92 km (57 mi) NW from epicenter	Kakuda Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
94 km (58 mi) W from epicenter	Miharu Fukushima, Japan.	III Weak
96 km (60 mi) WNW from epicenter	Yanagawamachi-saiwaichō Fukushima, Japan.	IV Light
97 km (60 mi) NW from epicenter	Iwanuma Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
99 km (62 mi) WNW from epicenter	Hobaramachi Fukushima, Japan.	IV Light
100 km (62 mi) NW from epicenter	Ōkawara Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
100 km (62 mi) W from epicenter	Nihommatsu Fukushima, Japan.	IV Light
100 km (62 mi) SW from epicenter	Kitaibaraki Ibaraki, Japan.	IV Light
102 km (63 mi) WNW from epicenter	Fukushima Fukushima, Japan.	IV Light
103 km (64 mi) W from epicenter	Kōriyama Fukushima, Japan.	IV Light
104 km (65 mi) W from epicenter	Sukagawa Fukushima, Japan.	IV Light
105 km (65 mi) NW from epicenter	Shiroishi Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
108 km (67 mi) SW from epicenter	Takahagi Ibaraki, Japan.	IV Light
109 km (68 mi) NNW from epicenter	Shiogama Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
112 km (70 mi) NNW from epicenter	Sendai Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
113 km (70 mi) NNW from epicenter	Rifu Miyagi, Japan.	III Weak
113 km (70 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ishinomaki Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
116 km (72 mi) NNW from epicenter	Yamoto Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
121 km (75 mi) SW from epicenter	Hitachi Ibaraki, Japan.	III Weak
123 km (76 mi) NNW from epicenter	Tomiya Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
138 km (86 mi) NW from epicenter	Yamagata Yamagata, Japan.	III Weak
138 km (86 mi) NNW from epicenter	Furukawa Miyagi, Japan.	IV Light
138 km (86 mi) WNW from epicenter	Yonezawa Yamagata, Japan.	III Weak
141 km (88 mi) WSW from epicenter	Nasushiobara Tochigi, Japan.	III Weak
142 km (88 mi) WSW from epicenter	Kuroiso Tochigi, Japan.	III Weak
145 km (90 mi) SW from epicenter	Hitachi-Naka Ibaraki, Japan.	IV Light
147 km (91 mi) NW from epicenter	Tendō Yamagata, Japan.	IV Light
147 km (91 mi) SW from epicenter	Katsuta Ibaraki, Japan.	IV Light
148 km (92 mi) WSW from epicenter	Ōtawara Tochigi, Japan.	III Weak
154 km (96 mi) SW from epicenter	Mito Ibaraki, Japan.	IV Light
170 km (106 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ichinoseki Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
176 km (109 mi) WSW from epicenter	Utsunomiya Tochigi, Japan.	III Weak
188 km (117 mi) SW from epicenter	Tsukuba Ibaraki, Japan.	III Weak
188 km (117 mi) WSW from epicenter	Kanuma Tochigi, Japan.	III Weak
200 km (124 mi) SW from epicenter	Oyama Tochigi, Japan.	III Weak
223 km (139 mi) SW from epicenter	Kashiwa Chiba, Japan.	III Weak
230 km (143 mi) WNW from epicenter	Niigata Niigata, Japan.
232 km (144 mi) SW from epicenter	Koshigaya Saitama, Japan.	III Weak
235 km (146 mi) SW from epicenter	Matsudo Chiba, Japan.	III Weak
237 km (147 mi) SW from epicenter	Honchō Chiba, Japan.	III Weak
239 km (149 mi) SW from epicenter	Saitama Saitama, Japan.	III Weak
240 km (149 mi) SSW from epicenter	Chiba Chiba, Japan.	III Weak
244 km (152 mi) SW from epicenter	Kawaguchi Saitama, Japan.	III Weak
247 km (153 mi) WSW from epicenter	Maebashi Gunma, Japan.
250 km (155 mi) SW from epicenter	Kawagoe Saitama, Japan.	III Weak
254 km (158 mi) SW from epicenter	Tokyo Tokyo, Japan.	III Weak
268 km (167 mi) SW from epicenter	Kawasaki Kanagawa, Japan.
279 km (173 mi) SW from epicenter	Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan.
280 km (174 mi) SW from epicenter	Hachiōji Tokyo, Japan.
284 km (176 mi) NNW from epicenter	Akita Akita, Japan.
311 km (193 mi) WSW from epicenter	Nagano Nagano, Japan.
330 km (205 mi) SW from epicenter	Kōfu Yamanashi, Japan.
342 km (213 mi) N from epicenter	Hachinohe Aomori, Japan.
393 km (244 mi) SW from epicenter	Shizuoka Shizuoka, Japan.
393 km (244 mi) WSW from epicenter	Toyama Toyama, Japan.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is IV. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 54 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 54 people have reported shaking in 29 places, all within Japan.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Tokyo, Tokio, Japan: 17 people.
Chiba, Chiba, Japan: 4 people.
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan: 4 people.
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan: 3 people.
Naka, Ibaraki, Japan: 2 people.
Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan: 1 person.
Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan: 1 person.
Nagareyama, Chiba, Japan: 1 person.
Misato, Saitama, Japan: 1 person.
Sōka, Saitama, Japan: 1 person.

Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. Just 2 days after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-5.1 was detected 23 km (14 mi) northwest of this earthquake.

In the days before this main shock, 2 smaller foreshocks were detected. A 4.6 magnitude earthquake hit 1 day earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 4.6	1 day earlier Oct 3, 2025 15:20 (Tokyo Time)	43 km (27 mi) W from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.2	1 day earlier Oct 3, 2025 17:45 (Tokyo Time)	99 km (61 mi) N from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.9	Oct 5, 2025 00:21 (Tokyo Time)	-
Aftershock	M 5.1	2 days later Oct 7, 2025 09:30 (Tokyo Time)	23 km (14 mi) NW from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since April 4th, 2024, when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 42 km (26 mi) further north-east. An even stronger magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck on March 16th, 2022.

In total, 22 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.9 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 6 months.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 54 km (34 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 03/12/25 05:58 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.