M4.2 Earthquake 21 km WNW of Kitakata, Japan — October 17, 2022
2022-10-17 19:50:55 UTC (2022-10-17) · approx. 4:50 AM UTC+9 local
On October 17, 2022 at 19:50 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 21 km WNW of Kitakata, Japan, at a depth of 155.3 km and coordinates 37.6899°, 139.6229°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
139.6229°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Kitakata, Japan?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 21 km WNW of Kitakata, Japan on October 17, 2022 at 19:50 UTC had a depth of 155.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ivi7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 17, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake 21 km WNW of Kitakata, Japan — October 17, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ivi7/