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Earthquake Hits Nagano in Japan

A strong earthquake shook central Japan and made it hard for some people to move safely.

Mountain town in Japan after an earthquake alert

A magnitude 5 earthquake hit Nagano prefecture in central Japan on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

Japanese media said the shaking was strong in the city of Omachi and nearby areas. Officials said the intensity was high enough to make movement difficult without support.

At first, there were no clear reports of major damage.

Japan has many earthquakes every year, so people and emergency officials are trained to react quickly when the ground starts shaking.