Kathmandu, October 16
Japan’s Meteorological Agency mistakenly issued an alert warning of a possible 9.9-magnitude earthquake on Friday following an earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. The agency withdrew the alert about eight minutes later.
According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Kamchatka region. Japan’s Meteorological Agency measured the quake at 6.9 magnitude, saying it occurred at a depth of around 160 kilometres.
At 12:40 pm on Friday, the agency issued a warning that powerful tremors could strike areas from Hokkaido to the Tokai region of central Japan. Alerts sounded through the public warning system and on mobile phones. The agency cancelled the warning at 12:48 pm.
According to an agency spokesperson, the system incorrectly estimated the earthquake’s epicentre to be near the Kuril Islands and significantly overestimated its magnitude. This led to the issuance of the major earthquake warning. The agency said it was investigating the cause of the error.
No strong tremors were actually felt in Japan. Under the country’s seismic intensity scale, only level one shaking was recorded in Hakodate, Hokkaido. No tsunami warning or advisory was issued.
Kamchatka experienced an 8.8-magnitude earthquake last year
The Kamchatka Peninsula is located in a seismically active region. On July 29, 2025, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the area.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), it was the sixth-strongest earthquake recorded worldwide by modern instruments. Tsunami warnings were subsequently issued for various areas around the Pacific Ocean.
Kamchatka is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Earthquakes occur frequently there because the Pacific Plate is being pushed beneath another tectonic plate. Powerful undersea earthquakes in the region also pose a tsunami risk.
—With assistance from The Japan Times.
