M4.6 Earthquake 122 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan — July 23, 2020
2020-07-23 13:19:08 UTC (2020-07-23) · approx. 10:19 PM UTC+9 local
On July 23, 2020 at 13:19 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 122 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 36.7573°, 142.2047°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
Earthquake Details
142.2047°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Iwaki, Japan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 122 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan on July 23, 2020 at 13:19 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.7573°, 142.2047°, which is 122 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000b2mz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, July 23, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 122 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan — July 23, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000b2mz/