Japan earthquake reports on Sunday, November 8 put the magnitude at 5.7 after a tremor struck western Shizuoka at 01:04 Japan Standard Time (JST), equivalent to 20:04 Dubai time on Saturday, November 7. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said there was no tsunami risk. More than 20 people were injured in Aichi and Shizuoka, Kyodo reported, citing authorities, according to Al Jazeera. That figure is not yet a confirmed national-agency total.
The strongest shaking was recorded in Chita, Aichi, at shindo 5-upper on Japan’s seismic intensity scale. Hamamatsu’s Hamana ward recorded 5-lower. Intensity describes shaking at a particular place, unlike magnitude, which measures the size of the earthquake. The epicentre and the place with the strongest shaking were therefore in different prefectures.
Japan earthquake: what officials have confirmed
JMA’s 03:05 JST update, issued at 22:05 Dubai time on November 7, kept the magnitude at 5.7 and revised the depth from about 40 km to 41 km. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency’s second report, dated 02:00 JST on November 8 (21:00 Dubai time on November 7), still listed casualties and housing damage as being confirmed. It gave no injury count. This remained the latest Shizuoka report on FDMA’s public list at the time of writing.
FDMA also recorded unusually high emergency-call volumes in Chita and said Aichi had established a disaster response headquarters. Its earlier bulletin and Kyodo’s later media figure should not be treated as equivalent updates: one records an unfinished official assessment; the other is an attributed agency report.
Why JMA says 5.7 and USGS says 5.5
The US Geological Survey (USGS) lists magnitude 5.5, using moment magnitude (Mww), and a depth of 38.1 km. JMA’s headline figure uses its own magnitude method. Different measurement methods and data can produce different estimates for the same event; these are not two separate earthquakes. Neither magnitude number is the local shindo intensity.
Aftershocks and the latest data
JMA urged caution for about a week in strongly shaken areas, particularly over the next two to three days, because further quakes could reach shindo 5-upper. It also warned of rockfalls and slope failures, with rainfall a further concern. Its 03:05 JST release counted one subsequent quake with intensity 1 or higher as of 02:35 JST (21:35 Dubai time, November 7). The earthquake feed identifies a magnitude 3.3 tremor in eastern Aichi at 02:03 JST, with maximum intensity 2. That is a timestamped observation, not a final aftershock total.
| Item | Figure or status | Source and time |
|---|---|---|
| Main shock | 01:04 JST, November 8 = 20:04 Dubai, November 7 | JMA; release 03:05 JST, November 8 / 22:05 Dubai, November 7 |
| JMA magnitude / depth | 5.7 (provisional) / 41 km, western Shizuoka | JMA update; 03:05 JST, November 8 / 22:05 Dubai, November 7 |
| Strongest shaking / tsunami | Shindo 5-upper in Chita / no tsunami risk | JMA; 03:05 JST, November 8 / 22:05 Dubai, November 7 |
| USGS magnitude / depth | 5.5 Mww / 38.1 km | USGS; checked 11:17 Dubai / 16:17 JST, November 8 |
| Reported injuries | More than 20; attributed, not FDMA-confirmed | Kyodo via Al Jazeera; November 8, exact report time not supplied; checked 11:17 Dubai / 16:17 JST |
| Official casualty assessment | Still being confirmed; no count | FDMA report 2; 02:00 JST, November 8 / 21:00 Dubai, November 7 |
| Subsequent felt quakes | One, maximum intensity 2, as of 02:35 JST | JMA; status 02:35 JST, November 8 / 21:35 Dubai, November 7 |
For UAE residents and travellers
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not commented on the quake in the news releases reviewed at the time of reporting. No UAE earthquake-specific advisory is established by those checks.
The official UAE Embassy in Tokyo page lists telephone +81 3 5489 0804, general email TokyoEMB@mofa.gov.ae and consular/citizens’ services email Tokyo.cons@mofa.gov.ae. These are standing contacts, not a new earthquake notice.
Check your own flight with the airline and local transport with its operator. This report does not establish disruption to Emirates or Etihad flights. Our separate report on Etihad and flydubai Saudi-route changes concerns Saudi Arabia, not Japan.
Travelling soon? Read our background guide to which airlines have paused or resumed Dubai flights, then confirm your booking directly with your airline.
For more international news, visit our World section.