Significant M5.7 Earthquake hit near Sakai in Japan on Saturday Evening.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 2nd, 2026. Last updated May 22nd, 2026.

In the evening of Saturday May 2nd, 2026, a significant Magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit under land 53 kilometer from Sakai in Japan. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 36 million people.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Japan, 53 kilometer (33 mi) south of Sakai in Ōsaka. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 64 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	May 2, 2026 18:28 (Tokyo Time) - May 2, 2026 09:28 Universal Time.
Location:	53 km south of Sakai, Ōsaka, Japan. Coordinates 34°6'52"N 135°33'12"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 29 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.058 .
Depth:	64 km (40 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to 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 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 36 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 36 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

An estimated 3,390 people were exposed to level V. At this level, moderate shaking and very light damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 22 million) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Japan .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
145,100	II	Very weak	None
14,460,000	III	Weak	Probably none
21,510,000	IV	Light	Likely none
3,390	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 Hashimoto in Wakayama, Japan. Hashimoto is located 23 kilometer (14 mi) south of the epicenter. Hashimoto experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Osaka is located 65 km to the north and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Kobe is located 73 km to the northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Sakai is located 53 km to the north 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)
23 km (14 mi) N from epicenter	Hashimoto Wakayama, Japan.	IV Light
26 km (16 mi) NW from epicenter	Iwade Wakayama, Japan.	IV Light
29 km (18 mi) NE from epicenter	Gojō Nara, Japan.	IV Light
32 km (20 mi) W from epicenter	Kainan Wakayama, Japan.	IV Light
38 km (24 mi) W from epicenter	Wakayama Wakayama, Japan.	IV Light
39 km (24 mi) W from epicenter	Minato Wakayama, Japan.	IV Light
40 km (25 mi) NW from epicenter	Izumisano Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
41 km (25 mi) NE from epicenter	Gose Nara, Japan.	IV Light
42 km (26 mi) N from epicenter	Izumi Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
42 km (26 mi) NW from epicenter	Kaizuka Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
43 km (27 mi) NW from epicenter	Kishiwada Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
43 km (27 mi) N from epicenter	Tondabayashichō Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
44 km (27 mi) SW from epicenter	Gobō Wakayama, Japan.	IV Light
45 km (28 mi) N from epicenter	Izumiōtsu Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
46 km (29 mi) S from epicenter	Tanabe Wakayama, Japan.	IV Light
46 km (29 mi) N from epicenter	Takaishi Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
49 km (30 mi) NE from epicenter	Kashihara-shi Nara, Japan.	IV Light
50 km (31 mi) N from epicenter	Matsubara Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
51 km (32 mi) NE from epicenter	Sakurai Nara, Japan.	IV Light
52 km (32 mi) N from epicenter	Kashihara Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
53 km (33 mi) N from epicenter	Sakai Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
56 km (35 mi) N from epicenter	Yao Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
58 km (36 mi) NE from epicenter	Tenri Nara, Japan.	IV Light
65 km (40 mi) N from epicenter	Ikoma Nara, Japan.	IV Light
65 km (40 mi) N from epicenter	Osaka Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
67 km (42 mi) N from epicenter	Daitō Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
68 km (42 mi) N from epicenter	Nara-shi Nara, Japan.	IV Light
68 km (42 mi) N from epicenter	Amagasaki Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
69 km (43 mi) N from epicenter	Moriguchi Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
69 km (43 mi) N from epicenter	Kadoma Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
70 km (43 mi) N from epicenter	Nishinomiya-hama Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
72 km (45 mi) N from epicenter	Ashiya Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
72 km (45 mi) N from epicenter	Suita Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
73 km (45 mi) NW from epicenter	Kobe Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
73 km (45 mi) N from epicenter	Neyagawa Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
74 km (46 mi) NE from epicenter	Nabari Mie, Japan.	IV Light
75 km (47 mi) N from epicenter	Toyonaka Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
76 km (47 mi) N from epicenter	Itami Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
78 km (48 mi) N from epicenter	Ibaraki Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
78 km (48 mi) N from epicenter	Hirakata Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
78 km (48 mi) N from epicenter	Takarazuka Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
78 km (48 mi) NW from epicenter	Akashi Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
79 km (49 mi) N from epicenter	Kawanishi Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
79 km (49 mi) N from epicenter	Ikeda Ōsaka, Japan.	III Weak
80 km (50 mi) N from epicenter	Mino Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
82 km (51 mi) N from epicenter	Takatsuki Ōsaka, Japan.	IV Light
89 km (55 mi) N from epicenter	Uji Kyoto, Japan.	IV Light
91 km (57 mi) W from epicenter	Tokushima Tokushima, Japan.	IV Light
91 km (57 mi) N from epicenter	Sandachō Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
99 km (62 mi) NW from epicenter	Kakogawachō-honmachi Hyōgo, Japan.	IV Light
102 km (63 mi) N from epicenter	Kyoto Kyoto, Japan.	IV Light
103 km (64 mi) N from epicenter	Ōtsu Shiga, Japan.	IV Light
140 km (87 mi) W from epicenter	Takamatsu Kagawa, Japan.	IV Light
160 km (99 mi) W from epicenter	Okayama Okayama, Japan.	IV Light
171 km (106 mi) NE from epicenter	Nagoya Aichi, Japan.	IV Light
176 km (109 mi) N from epicenter	Tsuruga Fukui, Japan.	IV Light
183 km (114 mi) NE from epicenter	Gifu-shi Gifu, Japan.	III Weak
196 km (122 mi) NW from epicenter	Tottori Tottori, Japan.	III Weak
197 km (122 mi) W from epicenter	Kochi Kōchi, Japan.	III Weak
210 km (130 mi) E from epicenter	Hamamatsu Shizuoka, Japan.	III Weak
259 km (161 mi) W from epicenter	Matsuyama Ehime, Japan.
259 km (161 mi) NE from epicenter	Iida Nagano, Japan.
275 km (171 mi) NW from epicenter	Matsue Shimane, Japan.
287 km (178 mi) W from epicenter	Hiroshima Hirochima, Japan.
293 km (182 mi) N from epicenter	Kanazawa Ishikawa, Japan.
299 km (186 mi) NE from epicenter	Nanto-shi Toyama, 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 32 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 32 people have reported shaking in 18 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:

Ōsaka, Ōsaka, Japan: 9 people.
Kyōto, Kyōto, Japan: 5 people.
Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan: 2 people.
Ashiya, Hyōgo, Japan: 2 people.
Machida, Tokio, Japan: 1 person.
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan: 1 person.
Oji, Nara, Japan: 1 person.
Ibaraki, Ōsaka, Japan: 1 person.
Chiryu, Aichi, Japan: 1 person.
Ōsakasayama, Ōsaka, Japan: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

This earthquake did not have any significant foreshocks nor aftershocks occurring within 100km (62 mi) of its epicenter.

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 are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since February 26th, 2025, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit 94 km (58 mi) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck on July 27th, 2019.

In total, 5 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.7 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 years.

Tsunami very unlikely

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.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always 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	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.7. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 64 km (40 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 22/05/26 11:18 (). 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.