4.7

M4.7 Earthquake 7 km S of Tsukuba, Japan — April 11, 2021

2021-04-11 18:59:30 UTC (2021-04-11) · approx. 3:59 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.7(mb)
Time18:59 UTC≈ 3:59 AM UTC+9
Depth73.4 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates36.137°, 140.088°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 11, 2021 at 18:59 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 intermediate depth earthquake struck 7 km S of Tsukuba, Japan, at a depth of 73.4 km and coordinates 36.1374°, 140.0881°.

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 36.14°, 140.09°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.7 mb
Depth
73.4 km
intermediate depth
Location
36.1374°N
140.0881°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000e25j
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
340
Azimuthal Gap
137.0°
Min Station Distance
1.569°
RMS Residual
0.68 sec
Last Updated
2021-06-19 21:26:06 UTC

Common Questions

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

The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 7 km S of Tsukuba, Japan on April 11, 2021 at 18:59 UTC had a depth of 73.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.1374°, 140.0881°, which is 7 km S of Tsukuba, 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: us6000e25j). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, April 11, 2021). M4.7 Earthquake 7 km S of Tsukuba, Japan — April 11, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000e25j/