Significant M5.4 Earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean near Hachinohe (Japan) on Sunday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 21st, 2025. Last updated January 8th, 2026.

A significant M5.4 earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean 59 kilometer from Hachinohe, Japan in the morning of Sunday December 21st, 2025. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 3.9 million people.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 59 kilometers (37 mi) off the coast of Japan, 59 kilometer east-northeast of Hachinohe in Aomori. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 55 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Dec 21, 2025 10:29 (Tokyo Time) - Dec 21, 2025 01:29 Universal Time.
Location:	59 km ENE of Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan. Coordinates 40°46'37"N 142°5'56"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.4 Detected by 20 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.069 .
Depth:	55 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 3.9 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 3.9 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IV, which corresponds with light shaking and likely no damage. Roughly 555,000 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 3.1 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
224,900	II	Very weak	None
3,131,000	III	Weak	Probably none
555,000	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 . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Hachinohe in Aomori, Japan. Hachinohe is located 59 kilometer (37 mi) east-northeast of the epicenter. Hachinohe experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Sapporo is located 262 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Hachinohe is located 59 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Sendai is located 298 km to the south-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
59 km (37 mi) WSW from epicenter	Hachinohe Aomori, Japan.	IV Light
61 km (38 mi) W from epicenter	Misawa Aomori, Japan.	IV Light
93 km (58 mi) NW from epicenter	Mutsu Aomori, Japan.	IV Light
115 km (71 mi) W from epicenter	Aomori Aomori, Japan.	IV Light
126 km (78 mi) S from epicenter	Miyako Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
127 km (79 mi) W from epicenter	Namioka Aomori, Japan.	III Weak
129 km (80 mi) WSW from epicenter	Hanawa Akita, Japan.	III Weak
129 km (80 mi) W from epicenter	Kuroishi Aomori, Japan.	III Weak
139 km (86 mi) W from epicenter	Hirosaki Aomori, Japan.	III Weak
140 km (87 mi) W from epicenter	Goshogawara Aomori, Japan.	III Weak
142 km (88 mi) WSW from epicenter	Ōdate Akita, Japan.	III Weak
144 km (89 mi) SSW from epicenter	Morioka Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
145 km (90 mi) W from epicenter	Shimokizukuri Aomori, Japan.	III Weak
146 km (91 mi) S from epicenter	Yamada Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
153 km (95 mi) SW from epicenter	Shizukuishi Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
159 km (99 mi) NW from epicenter	Hakodate Hokkaido, Japan.	III Weak
159 km (99 mi) WSW from epicenter	Takanosu Akita, Japan.	III Weak
168 km (104 mi) NW from epicenter	Kamiiso Hokkaido, Japan.	III Weak
168 km (104 mi) S from epicenter	Kamaishi Iwate, Japan.	II Weak
169 km (105 mi) SSW from epicenter	Tōno Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
171 km (106 mi) NW from epicenter	Honchō Hokkaido, Japan.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) N from epicenter	Shizunai-furukawachō Hokkaido, Japan.	III Weak
176 km (109 mi) SSW from epicenter	Hanamaki Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
186 km (116 mi) WSW from epicenter	Noshiro Akita, Japan.	III Weak
186 km (116 mi) SSW from epicenter	Kitakami Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
192 km (119 mi) S from epicenter	Ōfunato Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
194 km (121 mi) SSW from epicenter	Kanegasaki Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
195 km (121 mi) NNW from epicenter	Muroran Hokkaido, Japan.	III Weak
200 km (124 mi) SSW from epicenter	Mizusawa Iwate, Japan.	III Weak
202 km (126 mi) SW from epicenter	Ōmagari Akita, Japan.	III Weak
205 km (127 mi) SW from epicenter	Akita Akita, Japan.	III Weak
209 km (130 mi) SW from epicenter	Yokote Akita, Japan.	III Weak
211 km (131 mi) NNW from epicenter	Tomakomai Hokkaido, Japan.
214 km (133 mi) NNW from epicenter	Date Hokkaido, Japan.	III Weak
223 km (139 mi) SSW from epicenter	Ichinoseki Iwate, Japan.
225 km (140 mi) SW from epicenter	Yuzawa Akita, Japan.	II Weak
230 km (143 mi) N from epicenter	Chitose Hokkaido, Japan.
248 km (154 mi) N from epicenter	Kitahiroshima Hokkaido, Japan.
255 km (158 mi) NNE from epicenter	Obihiro Hokkaido, Japan.
262 km (163 mi) NNW from epicenter	Sapporo Hokkaido, Japan.
263 km (163 mi) NNE from epicenter	Otofuke Hokkaido, Japan.
263 km (163 mi) N from epicenter	Ebetsu Hokkaido, Japan.
264 km (164 mi) SSW from epicenter	Furukawa Miyagi, Japan.
271 km (168 mi) N from epicenter	Iwamizawa Hokkaido, Japan.
271 km (168 mi) SSW from epicenter	Ishinomaki Miyagi, Japan.
281 km (175 mi) NNW from epicenter	Ishikari Hokkaido, Japan.
282 km (175 mi) SW from epicenter	Sakata Yamagata, Japan.
283 km (176 mi) NNW from epicenter	Otaru Hokkaido, Japan.
285 km (177 mi) SSW from epicenter	Tomiya Miyagi, Japan.
288 km (179 mi) SSW from epicenter	Shiogama Miyagi, Japan.
298 km (185 mi) SSW from epicenter	Sendai Miyagi, Japan.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is IV.

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 3 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 3 people have reported shaking in one place in 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:

Misawa, Aomori, Japan: 3 people.

Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 1 smaller aftershock occurred. A 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit 18 hrs later 94 km (58 mi) east-northeast of this earthquake.

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
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.4	Dec 21, 2025 10:29 (Tokyo Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.3	18 hrs later Dec 22, 2025 04:32 (Tokyo Time)	94 km (58 mi) ENE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

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 December 12th, 2025, when a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit 74 km (46 mi) further east-northeast. An even stronger magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck on December 8th, 2025.

In total, 70 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.4 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 2 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 5.4. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 55 km (34 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 08/01/26 03:08 (). 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.