4.7

M4.7 Earthquake 169 km E of Yamada, Japan — June 12, 2020

2020-06-12 19:16:24 UTC (2020-06-12) · approx. 5:16 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.7(mb)
Time19:16 UTC≈ 5:16 AM UTC+10
Depth53.6 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates39.277°, 143.898°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On June 12, 2020 at 19:16 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 169 km E of Yamada, Japan, at a depth of 53.6 km and coordinates 39.2774°, 143.8977°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

The epicenter is located in Japan, a region characterized by the intersection of four tectonic plates — Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American — creating multiple subduction zones. The nearest mapped fault system is the Japan Trench. View all earthquakes in Japan.

Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 39.28°, 143.90°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.7 mb
Depth
53.6 km
shallow crustal
Location
39.2774°N
143.8977°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000aavu
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
340
Azimuthal Gap
128.0°
Min Station Distance
2.647°
RMS Residual
0.67 sec
Last Updated
2020-08-22 19:14:47 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Yamada, Japan?

The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 169 km E of Yamada, Japan on June 12, 2020 at 19:16 UTC had a depth of 53.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.2774°, 143.8977°, which is 169 km E of Yamada, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Has Japan had earthquakes this big before?

The largest recorded earthquake in Japan was the M9.1 Tohoku earthquake of March 11, 2011. Today's magnitude 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000aavu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, June 12, 2020). M4.7 Earthquake 169 km E of Yamada, Japan — June 12, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000aavu/