16.10.2026 10:01
The Japan Meteorological Agency accidentally sent an emergency warning that a magnitude 9.9 earthquake had occurred north of Hokkaido. The notification, which caused panic in the country, was canceled 8 minutes later. While it was announced that in reality a magnitude 6.9 earthquake had occurred near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, it was reported that there was no tsunami danger.
In Japan, on October 16, a false notification sent by the earthquake early warning system caused concern across a wide part of the country. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued an earthquake warning indicating the Kuril Islands as the epicenter with a magnitude of 9.9. However, an examination carried out shortly afterward revealed that the earthquake's magnitude had been miscalculated.
MAGNITUDE 9.9 EARTHQUAKE WARNING SENT
The Japan Meteorological Agency sent an emergency warning at around 12:40 local time stating that an earthquake of magnitude 9.9 had occurred in the Kuril Islands region.
The warning, covering a wide area from Hokkaido to central Japan, was delivered to citizens via mobile phones and emergency systems.
CANCELED 8 MINUTES LATER
With a new notification issued at 12:48, the agency canceled the earthquake warning. Officials explained that a real earthquake had occurred, but the early warning system had calculated the earthquake's magnitude much higher than it actually was. An investigation into the cause of the miscalculation has been launched.
THE ACTUAL EARTHQUAKE'S MAGNITUDE TURNED OUT TO BE 6.9
According to the statement, an earthquake of magnitude 6.9 occurred near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.
It was determined that the earthquake's epicenter was not the Kuril Islands north of Japan, but the area around Kamchatka.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that shaking at level 1 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale was recorded in the city of Hakodate, Hokkaido.
NO TSUNAMI DANGER
No tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center also reported that there was no tsunami danger due to the shaking.
WHAT DOES A MAGNITUDE 9.9 EARTHQUAKE MEAN?
The mistakenly announced magnitude 9.9 earthquake, had it occurred, would have exceeded the largest earthquake recorded in world history.
The largest earthquake recorded instrumentally to date is known as the magnitude 9.5 quake that occurred in Chile in 1960.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is investigating the cause of the technical error that led to the extraordinarily high magnitude estimate.