An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Japanese seismic scale (5-) was felt in Aomori and Iwate prefectures, Japan, on the morning of June 28, 2026, at around 5:21 am. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) confirmed that there is no risk of a tsunami after the incident.
The current seismic event follows a stronger tremor, of magnitude 7.2, which hit the coast of Iwate Prefecture on the 25th. In view of this, the JMA had already issued an alert to the population, recommending attention to possible tremors of up to magnitude 6 – for approximately a week.
Details of the intensity of the tremor in various locations
Hachinohe City in Aomori and Fudai Village in Iwate recorded the highest seismic intensity of 5- (weak).
Several other regions felt the tremor with intensity 4. Among them are the cities of Misawa, Hiranai, Noheji, Shichinohe, Rokunohe, Tohoku, Oirase, Higashidori, Sannohe, Gonohe, Nanbu, Hashikami and others in Aomori Prefecture, in addition to Morioka, Hachimantai, Takizawa, Yahaba, Karumai and Noda in Iwate Prefecture.
Tremors with minor intensities, ranging from 3 to 1, were noticed over a vast area stretching from Hokkaido to the Kanto-Koshinetsu region, encompassing multiple cities and towns.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, at a depth of 40 kilometers. The estimated magnitude of this earthquake is 6.1.
It is important to note that the coast of Iwate was the scene of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on June 25, which led the Japan Meteorological Agency to advise residents to maintain vigilance for new tremors, of magnitude 6 or greater, during the subsequent seven-day period.
Guidelines and risks for an earthquake of intensity 5-
The Japan Meteorological Agency explains that an earthquake with intensity 5- can cause dishes and books to fall from shelves, in addition to destabilizing unsecured furniture, which can tip over.
In the external environment, the shaking is capable of causing cracks in the ground. There is also a risk of rockfalls and landslides, especially in vulnerable areas.
For safety, it is crucial to avoid risk areas, such as places prone to landslides or close to slopes and cliffs.
Indoors, shattered dishes or broken glass can cause unexpected injuries during cleaning.
It is recommended not to force cleaning immediately and to use slippers or appropriate shoes when moving around indoor spaces, to avoid accidents.
As of 6 a.m., authorities in Aomori Prefecture, which experienced intensities of 5- and 4, had not received any reports of injuries or property damage.
The Iwate Prefectural Police, in turn, reported that as of 5:50 am there was no confirmation of injuries or damage caused by the earthquake.
An employee present on the second floor of Hachinohe city hall, Aomori, a place that registered intensity 5-, described the sensation as a “sideways tremor a little longer than normal”, without objects falling from the shelves.
On the eighth floor of a hotel in Hachinohe, where the seismic intensity reached 5-, the report is of strong lateral tremors that lasted around 40 seconds, but no objects fell from the shelves.