Magnitude 5.0 quake hits central Japan Officials warn of stronger tremors

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck northern Nagano Prefecture in central Japan, triggering a lower 5 intensity tremor in Omachi City and prompting authorities to warn residents to remain alert for further seismic activity over the coming week.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at around 1:20 pm local time, with its epicentre located at a depth of approximately eight kilometres near the Itoigawa–Shizuoka tectonic fault line, Japanese media reports.

Officials cautioned that aftershocks of similar strength remain possible, and that a more powerful earthquake cannot be ruled out in the region.

The agency noted that seismic activity continued later in the day, with another lower 5 tremor recorded at around 2:54 pm affecting both Omachi and Nagano cities.

The Japanese government has set up a liaison office at the Prime Minister’s Office to monitor developments. Local authorities in Nagano Prefecture said no injuries had been reported as of late afternoon.

Transport services were briefly disrupted, with East Japan Railway suspending operations on a section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Karuizawa and Itoigawa after a precautionary power cut. Services resumed roughly 10 minutes later following safety inspections. Similar procedures were carried out during subsequent tremors.

Officials warned that the affected area lies close to a major active fault system, where past seismic events have included clusters of repeated earthquakes.

By Aghakazim Guliyev