M4.9 Earthquake in the Izu Islands, Japan region — May 30, 2021
2021-05-30 19:48:46 UTC (2021-05-30) · approx. 4:48 AM UTC+9 local
On May 30, 2021 at 19:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Izu Islands, Japan region, at a depth of 91.3 km and coordinates 31.7500°, 140.3537°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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
Earthquake Details
140.3537°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake in the Izu Islands, Japan region?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck in the Izu Islands, Japan region on May 30, 2021 at 19:48 UTC had a depth of 91.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 31.7500°, 140.3537°, which is in the Izu Islands, Japan region. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000eg2b). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 30, 2021). M4.9 Earthquake in the Izu Islands, Japan region — May 30, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000eg2b/