4.8

M4.8 Earthquake 56 km SSE of Makubetsu, JapanAugust 10, 2022

2022-08-10 15:35:18 UTC (2022-08-10) · approx. 12:35 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.8(mb)
Time15:35 UTC12:35 AM UTC+9
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates44.878°, 142.011°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 10, 2022 at 15:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 56 km SSE of Makubetsu, Japan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 44.8780°, 142.0110°. This earthquake was detected by 144 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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 44.88°, 142.01°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.8 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
44.8780°N
142.0110°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000i9qy
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
354
Stations Used
144
Azimuthal Gap
92.0°
Min Station Distance
0.866°
RMS Residual
0.52 sec
Last Updated
2022-10-21 23:20:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Makubetsu, Japan?

The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 56 km SSE of Makubetsu, Japan on August 10, 2022 at 15:35 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 44.8780°, 142.0110°, which is 56 km SSE of Makubetsu, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000i9qy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, August 10, 2022). M4.8 Earthquake 56 km SSE of Makubetsu, JapanAugust 10, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000i9qy/