A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 struck central Japan early Sunday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Japanese media reported dozens of injuries.
The earthquake occurred at 1:04 AM local time, with its epicenter located in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture, approximately 40 kilometers deep. The agency did not issue a tsunami warning.
Background
- Japan, situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is one of the most disaster-prone countries.
- On November 2, 2026, the National Disaster Management Agency was launched to improve preparedness for potential major earthquakes or a Mount Fuji eruption. This agency oversees preparedness, emergency response, and reconstruction efforts.
A wide area near Aichi Prefecture was affected, and smaller aftershocks followed. The seismic intensity, measured on Japan’s scale of 0-7, reached an upper 5 in Chita, Aichi Prefecture. Lower 5 was recorded in Toyota, Handa, and other parts of Aichi Prefecture, Urugi in Nagano Prefecture, Ena in Gifu Prefecture, and Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Nagoya recorded an intensity of 4.
The full extent of damage and the exact number of injured from the recent earthquake are still unclear.
What happens next
The Japanese government has warned of the risk of powerful aftershocks in the coming days. The National Disaster Management Agency has urged municipalities and residents to check the earthquake resistance of their homes, secure furniture, evaluate evacuation procedures, and store water and portable toilets for at least three days.
Why it matters for Nepal
The earthquake's impact is significant for the large Nepali community in Japan. As of the end of June 2026, the number of Nepali residents in Japan reached 334,850. Aichi Prefecture alone had 23,328 Nepali citizens as of December 2025. The Nepali population in Japan has grown approximately 43-fold since 2005, with students forming the largest group.
