Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-07-29
A powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kyushu, Japan on July 28, bringing significant seismic activity to the region. Meanwhile, Japan's Kikai caldera shows signs of fresh magma recharge, and Hawai'i's Kīlauea volcano demonstrates rapid inflation after a brief pause in eruptive activity.
Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-07-29
Seismic Activity
Major Earthquake in Kyushu, Japan
A strong earthquake with magnitude 6.8 struck Kyushu, Japan at 07:27 UTC on July 28, 2026, with a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The epicenter was located in Kumamoto Prefecture, where seismic intensity reached 7.1 on the Japanese scale—the highest level on their measurement system. Wide areas in Kumamoto reported severe shaking, with intensity 5 felt across neighboring prefectures including Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Saga, and Fukuoka.
Global Seismic Summary
On July 28, 2026, seismic activity continued across multiple regions. A weak magnitude 2.2 earthquake was recorded near Honmachi, Kumamoto, Japan, and a magnitude 2.5 earthquake struck 26 miles northwest of Santa Rosa, California on July 29.
Volcanic Watch
Kikai Caldera Shows Fresh Magma Recharge
Deep beneath Japan's mostly submerged Kikai caldera, scientists have discovered a vast magma reservoir that appears to be refilling with fresh magma. This supervolcano produced the largest eruption of the Holocene 7,300 years ago. Seismic surveys now show that fresh magma has likely entered the same underground reservoir, marking a significant change in the volcano's internal processes.
Kīlauea Shows Rapid Inflation After Brief Pause
Hawai'i's Kīlauea volcano has resumed inflation starting around 6 a.m. HST on July 27, with rapid inflation continuing. As of July 28, the UWD tiltmeter has recovered 14.4 microradians of the 14.7 microradians lost during episode 51's deflation phase. The Halemaʻumaʻu eruption had been paused, with the next fountain episode likely between July 29 and August 2.
The volcano remains at ADVISORY alert level with YELLOW aviation color code.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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