5.1

M5.1 Earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan region — June 28, 2021

2021-06-28 09:12:42 UTC (2021-06-28) · approx. 7:12 PM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM5.1(mww)
Time09:12 UTC≈ 7:12 PM UTC+10
Depth13.7 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates26.816°, 143.019°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On June 28, 2021 at 09:12 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Bonin Islands, Japan region, at a depth of 13.7 km and coordinates 26.8158°, 143.0191°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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 26.82°, 143.02°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.1 mww
Depth
13.7 km
shallow crustal
Location
26.8158°N
143.0191°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000eqgb
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
400
Azimuthal Gap
40.0°
Min Station Distance
0.795°
RMS Residual
0.73 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-22 19:03:10 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan region?

The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck in the Bonin Islands, Japan region on June 28, 2021 at 09:12 UTC had a depth of 13.7 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 26.8158°, 143.0191°, which is in the Bonin Islands, Japan region. View all earthquakes in Japan.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000eqgb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, June 28, 2021). M5.1 Earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan region — June 28, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000eqgb/