What the record shows for Bonin Islands
The strongest earthquake on record near Bonin Islands is a magnitude 7.8 in 2015, centred Bonin Islands, Japan region - 11 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 3,098 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 333 km of Bonin Islands - roughly 155 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 6 tsunamis within 333 km of Bonin Islands between 1826 and 2019. The most significant was in 2010 near Bonin Islands, triggered by an M7.4 earthquake.
12 volcanoes are catalogued near Bonin Islands, including Nishinoshima, Kaikata Seamount, Doyo Seamount, Kaitoku Seamount, Kita-Ioto, Mokuyo Seamount and 6 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands south of Japan sit above the Izu-Bonin subduction zone, known for very deep earthquakes felt across Honshu.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Bonin Islands.
Earthquake risk in Bonin Islands - FAQ
Is Bonin Islands at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 155 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.8 in 2015.
What was the biggest earthquake in Bonin Islands?
The strongest earthquake on record near Bonin Islands is M7.8, in 2015 (Bonin Islands, Japan region), from USGS.
Does Bonin Islands get tsunamis?
Yes - 6 tsunamis since 1826 (most recently 2019) within 333 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Bonin Islands?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.