Japan withdraws mistaken alert for magnitude 9.9 quake

Summary

Japan withdrew an alert after officials believed a magnitude 9.9 earthquake had taken place, the New York Times reports; the tremor was hardly felt. The warning, retracted within minutes, forecast strong shaking across northern, eastern and central Japan. Hindustan Times reports that it followed a 6.9 tremor near Russia. NDTV notes that the most powerful quake had a magnitude of 9.5 and struck Chile.

Timeline

1. The Japan Times

   16 Oct 2026, 04:20 UTCSource ↗

   The Japan Times reports that an alert for a magnitude 9.9 quake, warning of strong shaking across northern, eastern and central Japan, was withdrawn minutes later.

2. Hindustan Times

   16 Oct 2026, 05:06 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that Japan mistakenly issued a magnitude 9.9 quake alert after a 6.9 tremor near Russia and retracted it within minutes.

3. NDTV

   16 Oct 2026, 05:39 UTCSource ↗

   NDTV reports that Japan's mistaken alert said magnitude 9.9 and notes that the most powerful quake had a magnitude of 9.5 and struck Chile.

4. The New York Times

   16 Oct 2026, 14:08 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that officials withdrew an alert issued when they believed a magnitude 9.9 earthquake had occurred, and that the tremor was hardly felt.