Japan Earthquake: Three Tremors in 20 Minutes Rock Western Region, Residents Flee Homes in Panic
January 6, 2026 – Western Japan was struck by a series of earthquakes on Tuesday morning, with three significant tremors occurring within just 20 minutes, forcing terrified residents to flee their homes.
The first and strongest quake, measuring magnitude 5.7 on the Richter scale (preliminary reports vary up to 6.2 from JMA), hit at approximately 6:48 AM IST (10:18 AM JST) near Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, at a shallow depth of 10 km. It was followed by a 4.7 magnitude tremor at 6:58 AM IST near Yasugicho, with a very shallow depth of about 3 km, and a 5.0 magnitude quake at 7:07 AM IST southwest of Yasugichō, at a depth of 23 km.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenters were located in the Chugoku region, affecting Shimane and neighboring Tottori prefectures. The shakes registered upper 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in areas like Matsue and Yasugi, strong enough to make standing difficult and cause heavy objects to fall.
Residents in the affected areas reported intense shaking, prompting many to rush out of their homes in fear. No major damage has been reported so far, and there were no casualties or tsunami warnings issued.
Japan, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent earthquakes. Authorities continue to monitor for aftershocks, urging vigilance in the region.
