RiskEvents
ClosedLow impactAI Generated

Magnitude ~5 Earthquake Strikes Off Miyagi Prefecture, Japan – No Tsunami Warning

Occurred 15 May 2026·Detected 18 May 2026·
🇯🇵 Off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan (Tohoku region)3 reportsEnded 18 May 2026
Natural CatastrophePropertyMarine CargoEnergyCasualty & LiabilityReinsurance

An earthquake occurred at approximately 20:22 local time on 15 May 2026, with its epicentre off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Seismic intensity of lower 5 (shindo 5-weak) was recorded in Ishinomaki, Tome, and Osaki cities in Miyagi. Weaker shaking was felt across a broad area including Iwate, parts of Tohoku, Kanto-Koshinetsu, Hokkaido, and Shizuoka Prefecture. No tsunami warning was issued.

AI-generated from linked source reports. See our correction policy.

Impact verdict

Low impact. Shindo 5-weak intensity is moderate and localised to northern/central Miyagi; no tsunami warning was issued and no damage or casualties are reported. Insurance losses, if any, are likely to be limited.

View assessment methodology

How we grade what we know -- Known · Reported · Uncertain. Methodology →

Intelligence ledger

Each line expands in place to its underlying sourced claim.

Known6 lines

Earthquake occurred at approximately 20:22 JST on 15 May 2026▾
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Epicentre located off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture▾
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Maximum observed seismic intensity: shindo 5-weak (lower 5) in Ishinomaki, Tome, and Osaki cities▾
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Shindo 4 recorded in Morioka, Ofunato, Hanamaki (Iwate) and Kesennuma, Natori, Iwanuma (Miyagi)▾
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Shindo 3–1 felt across wide areas including Tohoku, Kanto-Koshinetsu, Hokkaido, and Shizuoka▾
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No tsunami risk associated with this earthquake▾
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Reported1 line

Earthquake described as originating offshore Miyagi Prefecture▾
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Uncertain3 lines

Exact magnitude not specified in the article▾
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Depth of the earthquake not mentioned▾
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No information on structural damage or casualties▾
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Geographic Zone Matches

1 active match

  • Pacific Ring of Fire
    Rule-basedConfidence 100%

Geographic zone matches are RiskEvents spatial/analytical indicators, not coverage determinations or Lloyd's official classifications.

Affected countries

🇯🇵 Japan

Timeline

Status Change28 May 2026, 21:22

Lifecycle changed

monitoring → closed

Closure28 May 2026, 21:22

Event Closed

auto_closed_monitoring_timeout

Status Change18 May 2026, 17:30

Status changed to monitoring

Auto-transitioned: no updates for 6 hours

Status Change18 May 2026, 11:08

Status changed to active

Auto-promoted: 3+ sources

Corroboration18 May 2026, 11:08

An earthquake occurred off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan on the evening of May 15, 2026, registering a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale (shindo 5-). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a warning for residents in strongly affected areas to remain alert to aftershocks of similar intensity for approximately one week. No tsunami warning has been mentioned in the report.

Source: NHK News (Japanese) (Mainstream Media) · View source

Status Change18 May 2026, 10:54

Status changed to developing

Auto-promoted: multiple sources

Corroboration18 May 2026, 10:54

An earthquake has caused a power outage affecting the Tohoku Shinkansen line, resulting in suspension of train services in both directions between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations. JR East has halted operations on the affected segment due to the earthquake-related electrical failure. The extent of structural damage and duration of the suspension remain unclear from available reporting.

Source: NHK News (Japanese) (Mainstream Media) · View source

Initial Detection18 May 2026, 10:52

Initial Detection

An earthquake occurred at approximately 20:22 local time on 15 May 2026, with its epicentre off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Seismic intensity of lower 5 (shindo 5-weak) was recorded in Ishinomaki, Tome, and Osaki cities in Miyagi. Weaker shaking was felt across a broad area including Iwate, parts of Tohoku, Kanto-Koshinetsu, Hokkaido, and Shizuoka Prefecture. No tsunami warning was issued.

15日午後8時22分ごろ、宮城県沖を震源とする地震が発生し、宮城県で震度5弱の揺れを観測しました。この地震による津波の心配はありません。震度5弱の揺れを観測したのは、宮城県の石巻市と登米市、大崎市でした。

Source: NHK News (Japanese) (Mainstream Media) · View source

Lloyd's classifications

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