Overall Green Earthquake in Japan on 20 May 2026 02:46 UTC

GDACS is a cooperation framework between the United Nations, the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide to improve awareness, information exchange and coordination in the first phase after major sudden-onset disasters.

M 5.9 in Japan on 20 May 2026 02:46 UTC

Hazard models

Rapid Impact

Shakemap

Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude:	5.9M
Depth:	42 Km
Lat/Lon:	27.392 , 128.7336
Event Date:	20 May 2026 02:46 UTC 20 May 2026 11:46 Local
Exposed Population:	2 thousand in MMI V
Source:	NEIC us6000syw4
Inserted at:	20 May 2026 04:59 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity of the alert score:	1.1 (Japan)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS score click here.

	Earthquake (Shakemap)		GDACS score
NEIC	0		0
us6000syw4	Scaled population (raster)	0
	C1 shakemap	0
	C2 shakemap	0
	Country Vulnerability	0
	INFORM_normalised	0
	Score no CC	0

Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

ShakeMap is a product of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in conjunction with the regional seismic networks. ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes.

Episode Timeline

ID	Level	Score	Date	Mag, Depth	MMI*	Population**	Tsunami risk***	Delay (hh:mm)	Source
1706705		0	20 May 2026 02:46	5.9M, 49.7km	4.83	N/A (in MMI>=VII)		00:15	NEIC
1706726		0	20 May 2026 02:46	5.9M, 42km	4.76	N/A (in MMI>=VII)		02:13	NEIC

The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.

The episode that has the last updated information.

* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in Japan ,of Kyushu (population 13,296,000) . The alertlevel for this event is GREEN

Intensity	Population
	1800 people

Shakemaps Timeline

Shake id #	episodeid	Lat/Lon	Magnitude	Depth	Max MMI	Date shake (UTC)	Delay (hh:mm)
1	1706705	128.544/27.427	5.9	49.7	4.832	20 May 2026 03:08	00:22	(new episode)
2	1706705	128.544/27.427	5.9	49.7	4.832	20 May 2026 03:16	00:30	(upd of #1)
3	1706726	128.734/27.392	5.9	42	4.728	20 May 2026 05:06	02:20	(new episode)
4	1706726	128.734/27.392	5.9	42	4.728	20 May 2026 05:11	02:25	(upd of #3)
5	1706726	128.734/27.392	5.9	42	4.728	20 May 2026 05:17	02:31	(upd of #4)
6	1706726	128.734/27.392	5.9	42	4.728	21 May 2026 14:01	1d 11:14	(upd of #5)

Affected Provinces

Region Province	Country	Population
Kyushu	Japan	14000 people
Okinawa	Japan	210000 people
Kyushu	Japan	54000 people
Okinawa	Japan	900000 people

Affected populated places. Areas of interest

Name	Region Province	Country	City class	Population	Distance
Kunigami	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	6 km
Wadomari	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	8 km
China	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	17 km
Tamina	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	19 km
Isen	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	37 km
Itokina	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	41 km
Setaki	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	45 km
Kametsu	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	47 km
Ashito	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	49 km
Okamae	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	53 km
Hedo	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	75 km
Tana	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	83 km
Yoro	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	83 km
Ada	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	84 km
Ikechi	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	86 km
Osai	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	95 km
Izena	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	95 km
Saneku	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	98 km
Ikenma	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	98 km
Ogimi	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	98 km
Kaata	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	101 km
Obo	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	102 km
Toguchi	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	116 km
Nago	Okinawa	Japan	Village	59000 people	116 km
Higashieue	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	119 km
Kadena	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	150 km
Sukomo	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	96 km
Katoku	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	110 km
Nakao	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	112 km
Teima	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	114 km
Nakazato	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	115 km
Imasato	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	116 km
Naon	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	121 km
Yamato	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	126 km
Kominato	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	132 km
Naze	Okinawa	Japan	Village	41000 people	132 km
Kin	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	132 km
Daikuma	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	136 km
Ishikawa	Okinawa	Japan	Village	22000 people	140 km
Akina	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	142 km
Akaogi	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	143 km
Henna	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	146 km
Akagina	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	150 km
Kasari	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	152 km
Araki	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	154 km
Atsuta	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	155 km
Akatsure	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	159 km
Fusozaki	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	164 km
Ishimine	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	165 km
Naha	Okinawa	Japan	City	300000 people	167 km
Chifuwa	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	171 km
Hama	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	174 km
Nakaza	Okinawa	Japan	Village	-	176 km
Itoman	Okinawa	Japan	Village	56000 people	176 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name	IATA Code	Elevation (m)	Usage	Runway type	IFR	Runway Length (ft)	Distance
Okierabu	OKE	31	Civ.	Paved	Yes	3900	5 km
Yoron	RNJ	16	Civ.	Paved	Yes	3900	50 km
Tokunoshima	TKN	5	Civ.	Paved	Yes	6500	51 km
Ie Jima	IEJ	75	Civ.	Paved	No	4900	120 km
Kadena AB	DNA	45	Mil.	Paved	Yes	12100	150 km
Amami O Shima	ASJ	8	Civ.	Paved	Yes	6500	150 km
Kikai		6	Civ.	Paved	Yes	3900	156 km
Futenma Mcas		75	Mil.	Paved	Yes	9000	157 km
Naha	OKA	5	Civ.	Paved	Yes	9800	171 km

Ports

Name	LOCODE	Country	Distance
Oku		Japan	121 km
Kin Wan	JPKIN	Japan	139 km
Heianza	JPHEI	Japan	144 km
Nakagusuku Wan		Japan	150 km
Nishihara	JPNHR	Japan	159 km
Naha	JPNAH	Japan	169 km

Dams

Reservoir	Dam Name	River	Year	Distance
Kannako	Kanna	Kannafukujigawa	1993	127 km
	Okukubi	Okukubigawa	2001	130 km
Zukeyama	Kurashiki	Yonabarugawa	1995	144 km

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.

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