6.5-magnitude quake hits Japan's Bonin Islands, no tsunami warning issued

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the Bonin Islands region of Japan on October 25, 2026. The islands are also known as the Ogasawara Islands. The tremor has revived fear across Asia, coming only days after the devastating earthquake in Tibet.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake occurred at 11:09 am local time on Sunday. Its epicentre was on the sea floor near the Bonin Islands, about 1,000 km south-southeast of Tokyo. The focal depth was about 492 km.

The tremors came suddenly and caused panic for a while. People left their homes in search of safety, and many ran to open grounds. Fortunately, there is no report of any death or major damage to property.

Because the epicentre was very deep, the effect on the surface was limited. For this reason, no tsunami warning was issued despite the high magnitude of 6.5, and heavy loss of life was averted.

Japan is considered one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. The region lies on the boundary of the Pacific and Philippine tectonic plates, so there is frequent movement underground. As soon as the tremor was felt, the local administration put emergency systems on alert. The possibility of tsunami waves was ruled out because the epicentre lay deep under the sea floor. Coastal residents were told to stay alert, though the situation is fully under control for now.

Earlier, on Thursday, October 22, a severe earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Tibet at night. Its epicentre was just 10 km below ground in Bachen County in Nagqu city, Tibet. Because the focus was shallow, the destructive force of that quake was far greater.

The official toll from the Tibet disaster so far is 16 dead, while more than 76 people are seriously injured. More than 330 kutcha and pucca houses collapsed completely. The administration has moved more than 12,000 people to safety. Relief and rescue work is under way at speed in the remote area in bitter cold.

According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.16 was also recorded near the Vanuatu archipelago on Sunday morning. Geologists have indicated that a series of major earthquakes in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" region over the past few days points to rising stress between tectonic plates.

Modern buildings in Japan are built with earthquake-resistant technology. Even so, news of the loss of life in Tibet caused some panic among people for a while. The administration has appealed to citizens not to believe rumours and to follow official emergency instructions. People have also been told to stay alert, as aftershocks, or secondary tremors, may occur in the coming period.