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By Gabe Whisnant
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Japan experienced three small earthquakes Friday, each measuring between magnitude 4.5 and 4.6, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
Japan, one of the world's most seismically active nations, faces frequent quakes due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
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An early-morning tremor struck near Hanyu in Saitama Prefecture, registering a magnitude of 4.5 at a depth of approximately 3 miles beneath the surface. The quick, localized shake was felt indoors but did not cause any reported harm or disruption. Hanyū is located roughly 40-50 miles from central Tokyo.
A separate magnitude-4.6 quake occurred about 84 miles south-southeast of Shimoda, likely offshore in the Pacific. Though noticeable to residents in coastal areas, the event produced no lasting impact and did not trigger any tsunami advisories.
The third quake, measuring 4.5, struck near the Izu Islands region. Past events of this magnitude there—such as one recorded at around 6 miles depth—have similarly resulted in light shaking with no subsequent damage or tsunami alerts.
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Massive Earthquakes Strike Russia, Afghanistan
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, triggering widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including in Japan, Hawaii, and along the U.S. West Coast. In Japan, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued urgent alerts from Hokkaido down to Wakayama Prefecture, leading to evacuations for nearly two million residents across 229 municipalities.
Although initial wave heights were modest—about 1 meter along Japan's northern shores—the massive quake caused considerable alarm and travel disruptions, as authorities monitored aftershocks and potential risks. Fortunately, no major damage or casualties were reported in Japan, and critical infrastructure such as railways and nuclear facilities remained operational but on heightened alert.
Meanwhile, hundreds of additional bodies have been pulled from homes in mountain villages leveled by a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, raising the death toll to more than 2,200, a Taliban government spokesman said Thursday.
The 6.0-magnitude quake struck late Sunday in a remote, mountainous region, flattening villages and trapping residents under rubble. Most of the victims were in Kunar province, where families live in wood and mud-brick houses clustered along steep river valleys.
An assessment released Thursday by the aid group Islamic Relief found that about 98% of buildings in the province were damaged or destroyed. Relief organizations warned they lack the staff and supplies needed to reach survivors in the rugged terrain.
Two moderate earthquakes also struck eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Update: 9/5/25, 2:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
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