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M6.5 Earthquake near Bonin Islands, Japan — 25 October 2026

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 was recorded near Bonin Islands, Japan on , at a focal depth of 492.4 km. It was the strongest of the 48 earthquakes recorded in Japan in the preceding 30 days.

6.5 Strong

Time (UTC): 2026-10-25 02:09:23

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 6.5 (strong)

Focal depth: 492.4 km (deep)

Epicentre: 27.7953, 139.6180

Location: Bonin Islands, Japan region

Country: Japan

USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available

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 6.5 earthquake radiates roughly 84,802 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 650, which meets 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.

What the magnitude scale actually measures →

When it happened locally

That is about 11:27 local solar time at the epicentre, during the morning.

This event was deeper than 99% of the 1,293 earthquakes recorded in Japan in our catalogue and stronger than 99% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 27.7953, 139.6180. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 4.6 earthquake 4 km south of here on 18 July 2025.

Why the 492 km depth matters

At 492 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 produce strong, widely felt shaking. Its deep focus normally weakens surface shaking while spreading perceptible motion over a broad area.

Read more on how focal depth changes what you feel →

What does the tsunami information flag mean?

The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.

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 since this event was recorded.

42 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 5.5 event near Bonin Islands on 13 May 2025. This M6.5 event released about 32 times more energy than that event.

12 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 0 of them in the past 30 days.

How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →

Where this event sits in the record

This earthquake is part of the October 2026 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in Japan during October 2026. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.

Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre

Other recent earthquakes in Japan

All recorded earthquakes in Japan →

Other magnitude 6 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 6 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Bonin Islands?

It measured magnitude 6.5 — a strong earthquake. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake radiates roughly 84,802 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Bonin Islands?

The focus was 492 km below the surface, which counts as deep.

Was the Bonin Islands earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 6.5 and a focal depth of 492 km, the depth spreads the energy out, so shaking is weaker overhead but reaches further.

When did the earthquake near Bonin Islands happen?

25 October 2026 at 02:09 UTC.

Was there a tsunami?

The USGS record carries a link to NOAA tsunami information for this event. That is not a warning: check your regional tsunami warning centre for any live alert.

Have there been aftershocks?

No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre since this event was recorded.

How often do earthquakes happen near Bonin Islands?

42 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 5.5 event near Bonin Islands on 13 May 2025. This M6.5 event released about 32 times more energy than that event.