M5.8 Earthquake near Shingū, Japan — 26 February 2025
A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.8 was recorded near Shingū, Japan on , with an epicentre 38 km east-southeast of Shingū, at a focal depth of 394.5 km.
Time (UTC): 2025-02-26 05:53:24
Time (your timezone): —
Magnitude: 5.8 (moderate)
Focal depth: 394.5 km (deep)
Epicentre: 33.5960, 136.3680
Location: 38 km ESE of Shingū, Japan
USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Not linked
Review status: Reviewed
Source: USGS event page
How strong was this earthquake?
Moderate earthquakes can damage poorly built or unreinforced structures near the epicentre, while well-engineered buildings typically escape serious harm. Shaking is often strong enough to wake sleeping residents over a wide area.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake radiates roughly 7,558 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 518, which is below the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.
Where was the epicentre?
The epicentre was located at 33.5960, 136.3680 — 38 km east-southeast of Shingū. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 4.6 earthquake 53 km east-southeast of here on 04 July 2026.
Why the 394 km depth matters
At 394 km this was a deep-focus earthquake, occurring well inside the subducting slab rather than in the crust. Deep events are rarely damaging even at large magnitudes, though they can be felt over very long distances.
This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can be felt widely and may cause minor local damage. Its deep focus normally weakens surface shaking while spreading perceptible motion over a broad area.
What does the tsunami information flag mean?
The USGS record does not carry a link to NOAA tsunami information. That field is not an all-clear and does not state whether a tsunami occurred. In this case, a damaging tsunami would be less likely because at M5.8 it falls below the magnitude 6.5 threshold that generally applies before a submarine earthquake displaces enough water to generate a damaging tsunami; its 394 km focal depth is too great to deform the sea floor significantly; it occurred inland rather than beneath the sea floor. For an active coastal alert, use tsunami.gov or your local warning authority.
How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →
Aftershocks and local seismic history
No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event.
29 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 5.7 event near Kōya on 02 May 2026. This M5.8 event released about 1.4 times more energy than that event.
How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →
Where this event sits in the record
This earthquake is part of the February 2025 worldwide record. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.
Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre
- M4.6 earthquake near Kumano, Japan — (53 km ESE)
- M4.2 earthquake near Kushimoto, Japan — (95 km SSE)
- M5.7 earthquake near Kōya, Japan — (99 km NW)
- M4.1 earthquake near Shima, Japan — (106 km ENE)
- M4.1 earthquake near Toba, Japan — (112 km NNE)
- M4.5 earthquake near Aridagawa, Japan — (113 km WNW)
- M4.8 earthquake near Toba, Japan — (119 km NNE)
- M4.0 earthquake near Shima, Japan — (129 km E)
- M5.1 earthquake near Shirahama, Japan — (131 km WSW)
- M4.9 earthquake near Iwata, Japan — (146 km ENE)
Other magnitude 5 earthquakes worldwide
- M5.6 earthquake near Port McNeill, Canada —
- M5.5 earthquake near Mutsu, Japan —
- M5.6 earthquake near San Fernando, Peru —
- M5.9 earthquake near Colonia, Micronesia —
- M5.8 earthquake near Kermadec Islands region —
- M5.9 earthquake near Kermadec Islands region —
- M5.6 earthquake near Pacific-Antarctic Ridge —
- M5.6 earthquake near Tsunagi, Japan —
Questions about this earthquake
How strong is a magnitude 5.8 earthquake?
Moderate earthquakes can damage poorly built or unreinforced structures near the epicentre, while well-engineered buildings typically escape serious harm. Shaking is often strong enough to wake sleeping residents over a wide area. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake radiates roughly 7,558 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
How deep was the earthquake near Shingū?
At 394 km this was a deep-focus earthquake, occurring well inside the subducting slab rather than in the crust. Deep events are rarely damaging even at large magnitudes, though they can be felt over very long distances.
Was the M5.8 earthquake near Shingū felt?
This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can be felt widely and may cause minor local damage. Its deep focus normally weakens surface shaking while spreading perceptible motion over a broad area.
What does the USGS tsunami field mean for this event?
The USGS record does not carry a link to NOAA tsunami information. That field is not an all-clear and does not state whether a tsunami occurred. In this case, a damaging tsunami would be less likely because at M5.8 it falls below the magnitude 6.5 threshold that generally applies before a submarine earthquake displaces enough water to generate a damaging tsunami; its 394 km focal depth is too great to deform the sea floor significantly; it occurred inland rather than beneath the sea floor. For an active coastal alert, use tsunami.gov or your local warning authority.
Have there been aftershocks?
No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event.
How often do earthquakes happen near Shingū?
29 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 5.7 event near Kōya on 02 May 2026. This M5.8 event released about 1.4 times more energy than that event.