# Japan withdraws earthquake alert for false magnitude 9.9 quake

> Japan's Meteorological Agency cancels emergency alert for a false magnitude 9.9 quake after initial warning triggered by system error.
- Title: Japan withdraws earthquake alert for false magnitude 9.9 quake
- Summary: Japan's Meteorological Agency cancels emergency alert for a false magnitude 9.9 quake after initial warning triggered by system error. Japan's Meteorological…
- Keywords: japan meteorological agency, earthquake, hokkaido, kamchatka peninsula, jma, earthquake warning, news, politics, world, Japan, withdraws, alert
- Source: The Japan Times — https://japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/16/japan/jma-earthquake-warning
- Author: No Author
- Published: 2026-10-16T04:20:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: japan meteorological agency, earthquake, hokkaido, kamchatka peninsula, jma, earthquake warning, news, politics, world
## Emergency alert withdrawn
Japan's Meteorological Agency canceled an earthquake early warning issued Friday afternoon for a magnitude 9.9 quake.
## False magnitude 9.9 quake warning
The agency initially forecasted strong shaking across northern, eastern and central Japan but recorded a smaller magnitude 6.9 quake.
## Initial warning timing
An emergency warning was issued at 12:40 p.m. after a 6.9 earthquake struck at 12:38 p.m. off the Kamchatka Peninsula.
## System error explanation
The agency's system mistakenly placed the epicenter off the Kuril Islands and overestimated the magnitude, triggering the initial warning.
## No strong shaking felt
The quake registered shindo 1 on Japan's seismic scale in Hokkaido with no strong shaking reported in Japan.
## Investigation ongoing
The agency is investigating the cause of the system error and will provide an explanation once determined.
## Key takeaway

Japan's Meteorological Agency canceled an earthquake alert for a false magnitude 9.9 quake after its system mistakenly placed the epicenter off the Kuril Islands.