M4.5 Earthquake 87 km WNW of Naze, Japan — November 17, 2020
2020-11-17 22:09:36 UTC (2020-11-17) · approx. 7:09 AM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On November 17, 2020 at 22:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 87 km WNW of Naze, Japan, at a depth of 139.7 km and coordinates 28.7600°, 128.7132°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 13 days ago 88 km NNW of Uken, Japan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
128.7132°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Naze, Japan?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 87 km WNW of Naze, Japan on November 17, 2020 at 22:09 UTC had a depth of 139.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 28.7600°, 128.7132°, which is 87 km WNW of Naze, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 88 km NNW of Uken, Japan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000cpmq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 17, 2020). M4.5 Earthquake 87 km WNW of Naze, Japan — November 17, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000cpmq/