Earthquake · Japan region
M6.1 earthquake near Volcano Islands, Japan region
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Volcano Islands, Japan region on 21 January 2026 at 16:37 UTC, at a depth of 8 km.
- Magnitude
- 6.1 mww
- When
- 21 January 2026, 16:37 UTC
- Depth
- 8 km
- Location
- 23.20° N, 142.60° E
- Strongest shaking (estimated)
- Intensity III (weak)
- USGS PAGER alert
- Green
- Source
- USGS event page
What it means
A magnitude 6.1 is a strong earthquake; there are about 130 a year worldwide, and they can cause damage in populated areas near the epicentre. At 8 km deep it was a shallow earthquake, which usually means stronger shaking near the epicentre.
The magnitude may be revised as more data comes in. Read Earthquake magnitude explained for what the numbers mean.
Aftershocks
5 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 150 km in the 30 days after; the largest was a magnitude 5.0.
| Mag | Where | When (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | Volcano Islands, Japan region | 25 January 2026, 22:02 |
| 4.6 | Volcano Islands, Japan region | 19 February 2026, 15:01 |
| 4.4 | Volcano Islands, Japan region | 26 January 2026, 10:37 |
| 4.4 | Volcano Islands, Japan region | 17 February 2026, 17:18 |
| 4.2 | Mariana Islands region | 31 January 2026, 19:11 |
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