M4.6 Earthquake 6 km N of Furukawa, Japan — November 20, 2020
2020-11-20 22:20:45 UTC (2020-11-20) · approx. 7:20 AM UTC+9 local
On November 20, 2020 at 22:20 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 6 km N of Furukawa, Japan, at a depth of 91.8 km and coordinates 38.6286°, 140.9685°.
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
140.9685°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Furukawa, Japan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 6 km N of Furukawa, Japan on November 20, 2020 at 22:20 UTC had a depth of 91.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 38.6286°, 140.9685°, which is 6 km N of Furukawa, 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: us6000cr2j). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 20, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 6 km N of Furukawa, Japan — November 20, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000cr2j/