M6.1 Earthquake near Sarabetsu, Japan — 26 April 2026
A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.1 was recorded near Sarabetsu, Japan on , with an epicentre 18 km west of Sarabetsu, at a focal depth of 81.0 km.
Time (UTC): 2026-04-26 20:23:55
Time (your timezone): —
Magnitude: 6.1 (strong)
Focal depth: 81.0 km (intermediate)
Epicentre: 42.6311, 142.9620
Location: 18 km W of Sarabetsu, Japan
USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Not linked
Review status: Reviewed
Source: USGS event page
How strong was this earthquake?
Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake radiates roughly 21,301 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 575, 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 42.6311, 142.9620 — 18 km west of Sarabetsu. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 4.3 earthquake 42 km west of here on 14 August 2025.
Why the 81 km depth matters
At 81 km this was an intermediate-depth earthquake. Energy from events at this depth spreads out before it reaches the surface, which usually means weaker shaking near the epicentre than a shallow quake of the same magnitude, but shaking felt across a wider area.
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 produce strong, widely felt shaking. Its intermediate depth normally reduces peak shaking near the epicentre compared with a shallow event of the same magnitude.
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 M6.1 it falls below the magnitude 6.5 threshold that generally applies before a submarine earthquake displaces enough water to generate a damaging tsunami; 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.
137 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 7.6 event near Misawa on 08 December 2025. This M6.1 event released about 178 times less 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 April 2026 worldwide record. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.
Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre
- M4.3 earthquake near Biratori, Japan — (42 km W)
- M4.7 earthquake near Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan — (48 km WSW)
- M4.6 earthquake near Urakawa, Japan — (66 km SSW)
- M4.5 earthquake near Urakawa, Japan — (74 km SSW)
- M4.2 earthquake near Urakawa, Japan — (79 km SSW)
- M4.5 earthquake near Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan — (80 km SW)
- M4.5 earthquake near Ashoro, Japan — (83 km NE)
- M4.3 earthquake near Urakawa, Japan — (86 km SSW)
- M4.3 earthquake near Urakawa, Japan — (103 km SSW)
- M4.9 earthquake near Shiranuka, Japan — (106 km E)
Other magnitude 6 earthquakes worldwide
- M5.9 earthquake near Colonia, Micronesia —
- M5.8 earthquake near Kermadec Islands region —
- M5.9 earthquake near Kermadec Islands region —
- M5.9 earthquake near Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico —
- M5.8 earthquake near Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia —
- M5.8 earthquake near Oula Xiuma, China —
- M5.8 earthquake near Atka, Alaska —
- M5.8 earthquake near Atka, Alaska —
Questions about this earthquake
How strong is a magnitude 6.1 earthquake?
Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake radiates roughly 21,301 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
How deep was the earthquake near Sarabetsu?
At 81 km this was an intermediate-depth earthquake. Energy from events at this depth spreads out before it reaches the surface, which usually means weaker shaking near the epicentre than a shallow quake of the same magnitude, but shaking felt across a wider area.
Was the M6.1 earthquake near Sarabetsu 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 produce strong, widely felt shaking. Its intermediate depth normally reduces peak shaking near the epicentre compared with a shallow event of the same magnitude.
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 M6.1 it falls below the magnitude 6.5 threshold that generally applies before a submarine earthquake displaces enough water to generate a damaging tsunami; 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 Sarabetsu?
137 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 7.6 event near Misawa on 08 December 2025. This M6.1 event released about 178 times less energy than that event.