Japan Building Appears To 'Bounce' During Powerful 7.2 Earthquake Yet Stays Standing | Watch

Last Updated:June 28, 2026, 22:56 IST

The footage was captured during seismic intensity 5-lower shaking on Japan's seven-point Shindo scale.

A building in Japan appeared to bounce from side to side as a powerful offshore earthquake rattled the country, with CCTV footage capturing the structure convulsing violently before pieces of its exterior wall peeled away and crashed onto the street below.

The footage, recorded in Fujiyoshida City in Yamanashi Prefecture, shows the building shaking so intensely that it appears to lift and bounce while debris falls from its facade. Japanese television identified the location as Nanokaichi Shopping Street and reported that the exterior wall partially detached during the tremors.

The broadcaster said the footage was captured during seismic intensity 5-lower shaking on Japan’s seven-point Shindo scale. A day after the earthquake, authorities were assessing damage across Yamanashi, where landslides and water supply disruptions were also reported.

Despite the terrifying visuals, the building remained standing.

The dramatic scenes came after a powerful earthquake struck off Japan’s northern coast on Thursday morning.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the quake was initially measured at magnitude 6.9 before being revised to 7.2. The epicentre was located off Iwate Prefecture at a depth of 44 kilometres. No tsunami warning was issued.

The tremors were felt hundreds of kilometres away, including in Tokyo, where buildings swayed and emergency alerts were triggered on mobile phones.

Television footage from other parts of northern Japan showed kitchen cupboards flinging open, saucepans scattered across floors and goods knocked off shop shelves. Some Shinkansen bullet train services were temporarily suspended, while authorities also received reports of jammed doors, people trapped in lifts and an overturned tanker truck.

Officials said there were no reports of deaths or major structural damage.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the government had not received any information indicating casualties but would continue monitoring the situation.

No abnormalities were reported at nuclear power stations in the affected region, according to Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents in areas that experienced strong shaking to remain alert for possible aftershocks of similar intensity.

Japan sits atop four major tectonic plates along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. The country experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year, although most cause little or no damage.

The latest quake revived memories of the devastating 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that killed or left missing around 18,500 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Earlier this year, another powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 struck northern Japan, prompting authorities to issue a temporary advisory warning of an increased risk of even stronger tremors.

While Thursday’s quake caused panic and scattered damage, the dramatic CCTV footage of a building appearing to bounce before remaining standing has once again highlighted the resilience of Japan’s earthquake-resistant engineering.

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c...Read More

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